Lt. Col. Troy Riggs, one of three Louisville Metro Police Department assistant chiefs, has been chosen as police chief in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The city of Corpus Christi issued a news release on Monday saying Riggs, who is also Louisville Police Chief Robert White's chief of staff, was selected.
Riggs, 43, had declined to comment Monday on the Corpus Christi job, but White confirmed Monday night that Riggs had told him earlier that day he was taking the job.
"I think Corpus Christi's gain is certainly our loss," White said. "Troy Riggs is a phenomenal administrator, he's a good person, a good family man. I wish him well. I think he will do a fantastic job."
Corpus Christi city manager Angel R. Escobar said in the release Monday that Riggs' "skills demonstrate effective teamwork, communication and integrity which with his policing experience will translate into an excellent leader."
If Riggs' selection is confirmed by the City Council, his appointment will be effective Oct. 5, the release said.
Corpus Christi city spokeswoman Kim Womack couldn't immediately be reached for comment Monday.
On Friday, the city of Corpus Christi had issued a release confirming Riggs was a finalist along with Thomas W. Lawrence, deputy chief of police in Dallas.
Escobar said in that release a citizen committee that interviewed the six final candidates for police chief had narrowed the field to Riggs and Lawrence from among 86 applicants.
In the Louisville department, Riggs oversees support operations, while Assistant Chief Phil Turner is in charge of patrols and Assistant Chief Vince Robison is in charge of administration.
"I'm going to miss him professionally because he's been a big help to me and I'm going to miss him personally because I consider him a friend," White said.
Corpus Christi has about 400 uniformed officers, compared with about 1,200 in Louisville.
Riggs joined the former Jefferson County Police Department in 1994, rising to the rank of lieutenant. While on the force, he spent several years as spokesman for county Judge-Executive Rebecca Jackson. When the city and county police departments merged in January 2003, the new chief, White, selected Riggs as his chief of staff. Riggs' salary in Louisville is approximately $110,000 a year.