UPDATE: New Police Chief David Rahinsky's plan for first 90 days, thoughts on GRPD's future

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- David Rahinsky, the police chief in Franklin, Tenn., has been named the new police chief for Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids City Manager Greg Sundstrom announced the appointment Friday, June 27, in a statement.

Rahinsky was one of four candidates selected as finalists for the job. The others were East Grand Rapids Public Safety Director Mark Herald, Port Huron Public Safety Director Michael Reaves and Atlanta Deputy Chief Ernest Finley Jr.

Related: Grand Rapids' next police chief is a two-man race, forum crowd says

The decision on the chief's position was made just a day after a public forum to introduce the candidates to the community.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk announced plans to retire earlier this year.

Sundstrom said the decision was unanimous by the eight-member selection team that felt Rahinsky was the "best fit for Grand Rapids."

“Although this was a difficult decision -- as we had four very strong candidates to consider -- feedback from hundreds of citizens made this choice easier," Sundstrom said in the statement. "I believe Chief Rahinsky best matches the community profile. His experience and resume are very deep and he has received wide support from the community.

Rahinsky will start his duties in Grand Rapids on July 7.

“I am eager to begin working with the men and women of the Grand Rapids Police Department. The community engagement process provided me with a flavor of what Grand Rapids residents are most interested in, and I intend to build community relationships with that as my starting point,” stated Rahinsky.

He leaves a city in Tennessee that is one-third size of Grand Rapids. He served as chief there since 2011. Rahinsky was hired in Franklin in 2006 as the city's deputy chief. Prior to that, Rahinsky worked for the Broward County Sheriff's Department, advancing to lieutenant commander.

E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison