Whitefish 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.

Longtime Columbia Falls Police Chief Dave Perry was fired July 1 over an incident in which an inmate escaped from the city jail. Perry, who had been with the police department for 25 years — 20 years as chief — said earlier he plans to appeal his termination.

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 cities have yielded a proposed interlocal agreement that will be considered Monday by the Whitefish City Council. The agreement will provide administrative personnel for oversight, guidance, case management and auditing areas of police function for the Columbia Falls Police Department during the time the city is without a police chief.

Columbia Falls will reimburse the city of Whitefish for Ferda’s service, at a rate of $54.74 per hour, which includes employer contributions and benefits.

Columbia Falls is advertising for a full-time police chief, with the application process wrapping up at the end of August, Columbia Falls City Manager Susan Nicosia said.

The job is advertised for a salary of $63,000 to $70,000 annually. Perry was paid about $68,000 annually.

Columbia Falls has nine full-time police officers.

Nicosia estimated the hiring process will take three months.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at [email protected].