Updated: 5:42 PM MST January 20, 2021 MERIDIAN, Idaho — The City of Meridian is about to get a new police chief. Mayor Robert Simison announced Wednesday that he will appoint veteran officer Tracy Basterrechea as the city's next chief at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 26. If approved by the council, Basterrechea would become Meridian's 15th police chief. He would be sworn in that night. Basterrechea has served in the Meridian Police Department for 24 years, working his way up through the ranks during that time. He started as a patrol officer and has served as deputy chief since 2009. “Serving as a police officer in America today brings on challenges that most of us will never know or understand. It takes a special person to do this work and lead the men and women in our police department,” said Simison in a prepared statement. "Basterrechea has my complete confidence to serve as our city’s top law enforcement officer and I am honored he is willing to accept this new challenge.”