Cedar Rapids police chief to take job in Florida

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — The police chief of Iowa’s second largest city says he’s ready to return to his hometown in Florida to lead its police department.

Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham told department employees Friday he will become the chief in Ocala, Florida if he wins approval from the city council there. Mayor Kent Guinn nominated Graham to replace a chief who recently stepped down.

Graham was the deputy chief in Ocala, a city of about 55,000, before coming to Cedar Rapids in 2008, and had worked on its force for 25 years.

Graham says he intended to finish his career in the Midwest, but always thought if the top job in Ocala opened he would be interested.