Spirit Lake Has A New Police Chief - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

SPIRIT LAKE, Idaho- The city has hired a new police chief after the resignation of former controversial chief, Patrick Lawless.

Thursday Gene Marquez accepted the job to become Spirit Lake's new police chief. Marquez recently lost a bid to incumbent Mitch Alexander to become the next Shoshone County Sheriff. Marquez is a 1978 graduate of Lakeland High School and currently lives in the Silver Valley. Marquez served as a military police officer in the army, he also spent 8 years as a Boise police officer and later 23 years with the Idaho State Police. This year Marquez retired from law enforcement and was unsuccessful in his campaign to become Shoshone County Sheriff.

The former Spirit Lake Police Chief, Patrick Lawless resigned his position in October amid a sexual harassment lawsuit that also named current city mayor Todd Clary claiming he knew about the allegations but turned a blind eye.

KHQ's Dylan Wohlenhaus sat down with the new police chief Gene Marquez about his new position and how he intends to gain the city's trust in his new job. Watch tonight at 5 and 6 for the latest.