Barthel picked as police chief

Seventeen-year Havre Police Department veteran Mike Barthel was appointed by Mayor Bob Rice as the city's new police chief this morning.

Barthel was one of four officers to apply for the job after Chief Kevin Olson resigned to take a job as administrator of the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Barthel has been acting police chief since Olson's Feb. 27 departure.

The Havre City Council will be asked to approve Barthel's appointment during the council meeting Monday night, City Clerk Lowell Swenson said.

Neither Barthel nor Rice could be reached for comment this morning.

The decision to appoint...