EDGEWATER, Colo. — Edgewater will temporarily fill its upcoming police chief vacancy with the help of Arvada.
Arvada's City Council unanimously approved a deal Monday night to loan a police commander to serve as Edgewater's interim chief of police. Edgewater's City Council approved the loan Tuesday night, City Manager Dan Maples told 9NEWS.
"Arvada and Edgewater deem it necessary and beneficial to each of them that Employee be seconded to Edgewater as its Interim Chief of Police..." an intergovernmental agreement between the two cities read.
Chief Eric Sonstegard, Edgewater's current police chief, submitted his resignation in August intending to leave the department on Dec. 20.
>Video below: Arvada city council hears about resolution to loan police commander to Edgewater.
"I love Edgewater and I have especially loved working for you. I do believe in my heart the men & women of the Edgewater Police Department ("EPD") will benefit from a fresh start and a work environment free from the consistent scrutiny that I have been unable to eliminate for them," Sonstegard wrote to the city manager announcing his resignation.
Sonstegard wrote that he would be leaving for an assistant city manager job in Oxnard, CA.
Melanie Thornton will begin as interim police chief on Dec. 2 until a new chief is hired, or until April 1. The agreement states the two cities could also agree to renew the deal, if Edgewater has not hired a chief by April.
During Thornton's loan to Edgewater, she will remain an Arvada employee, but she will have, "No responsibility to provide services to Arvada," the agreement states, except to answer questions related to her prior work.
Arvada will pay Thornton, and Edgewater will reimburse Arvada. The agreement states she makes $14,135.92 per month this year and will increase to $14,560.00 per month in 2025.
Edgewater's city manager will need to approve any of her requests for time off.
Edgewater does not have the police chief position posted on its website.