INGLEWOOD—The Inglewood City Council appointed interim police Chief Mike Fronterotta as the permanent head of the department, it was announced Tuesday. He had been serving as interim police chief since June 2012.

Fronterotta, a 31-year veteran of the police department, served as commander of the Office of Patrol Services, and he participated in a restructuring of that office that focused on community collaboration and the use of new technology.

He is a native of Haverhill, Massachusetts and graduated from Lowell University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

“Certainly it is an honor to be appointed chief. I am pleased that this community has the faith to have me be their chief. I will do nothing less than deliver a first- rate police department. After all, I consider Inglewood my home; I could not think of doing less than that,” said Fronterotta.

The city council approved his permanent status at its meeting on Wednesday, January 23.