After identifying his choice, Mexico City Manager Bruce Slagle didn’t waste any time getting new Mexico Police Chief Brice Mesko going in his new position.

Slagle made the announcement at the end of the city council’s regular meeting held on Monday, May 22, at City Hall. Mesko takes over for Susan Rockett who retired after 14 years serving as the chief. Rockett made the announcement last month and has already worked her last day but is using accrued vacation time for the remainder of her time on the books. Rockett’s official last day is June 30.

“I made my choice and I’m proud to announce Brice Mesko,” Slagle said. “He’s promoted to Public Safety Chief effective immediately.”

Slagle said the city advertised for the position in April locally, statewide, and beyond. He said many responses were received but they were able to narrow down the candidates last week and interviews were conducted. Mesko, who is already on the force, rose to the top. Mesko gets promoted from the rank of Major to Chief. Mesko has recently served as the department’s public information officer.

“As always it is my goal to hire the most competent, talented person and best fit for the city of Mexico,” Slagle said in making the announcement. 

Mayor Vicki Briggs congratulated Mesko and said it will be interesting to see what plans he has for the department.

“I’m pleased and I think everyone else is too,” Briggs said. “There were some strong candidates and you came out on top.”

Mesko has been a police officer for 27 years all of which have been with the Mexico Public Safety Department. Mesko attended high school in Rolla before heading off to college at the University of Missouri in Columbia (MU). Mesko is married with two daughters and the youngest one just started her college path at MU.

Mesko told the Ledger it’s an honor to be selected to be the next chief.

“It’s a nice sign of faith that the city is placing in me,” Mesko said. “I’m just going to try to work to live up to that.”

Mesko said not to expect any big changes with the change. He said the department has decades of tradition and that’s something he wants to continue to build on. As far as changes go the department will continue to keep up with the current times.

“There are always little changes that come along,” Mesko said. “We always work to evolve and keep up with whatever’s new in the police and fire professions.”

Mesko said one of the biggest evolutions during Rockett’s time was the development of social media. He said Rockett did a good job of establishing the department’s presence and that he needs to keep improving.

“I think every police agency has learned that you need to be involved in that,” Mesko said.

Mesko said he also learned from Rockett that the chief needs to have a public presence. Rockett didn’t have any specific advice for him but she did give him a confidence boost.

“She said she felt like I had been doing the department proud for quite a while and she was glad I was going to continue to do that,” Mesko said.

In his free time, Mesko has enjoyed woodworking and hunting but hasn’t had a lot of time to do either. Lately, he’s tried his hand at playing the guitar.

“Every once in a while, I try to make some kind of noise with a guitar,” Mesko said while laughing. “I cannot say I create music because it’s not what it sounds like.”

Mesko said his department is facing a lot of the same challenges many departments are having with staffing issues; he already has some good people in place.

“We’ve been at this for quite a while and our team is strong,” Mesko said. “Our goal is to continue to help the community.”