The Whitefish Police Department has offered to provide temporary administrative assistance for the Columbia Falls Police Department while the city of Columbia Falls searches for a new police chief.
Columbia Falls Police Chief Dave Perry was terminated July 1, nearly two months after a man who was arrested for assault walked out of the police station.
An offer by Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial to help out Columbia Falls led to a plan to have Whitefish Assistant Police Chief Mike Ferda devote eight hours per week to help Columbia Falls review police case reports and take a look at policies and procedures.
Discussions between the two agencies resulted in a proposed interlocal agreement that the Whitefish City Council approved Aug. 1.