The Newman City Council voted 4-0 to authorize City Manager Michael Holland to approve the employment agreement of Raymond Framstad, an operations lieutenant at Merced County Sheriff's Office, to become the next police chief of the Newman Police Department last Tuesday. Councilmember Gisel Pimentel was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

Framstad will succeed former Police Chief Randy Richardson, who retired in May. His first day will be on July 27, according to the agenda report.

Holland said the city had an outside panel to conduct the interview and were "thoroughly expressed” with Framstad’s qualifications.”

“We found him very knowledgeable and experienced to qualify to become the next chief for the City of Newman,” Holland said.

Framstad comes to Newman after more than 20 years with the Sheriff's Office, according to his Linkedin profile. He joined the Sheriff's Office in January 2006 as a deputy sheriff. After eight years, Framstad served as the operations sheriff for nearly six years before his current role, operations lieutenant. In his current role, he supervises multiple units such as Code Enforcement, the Detective’s Bureau, the Coroner’s Bureau and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force.

Born in Santa Cruz, Framstad and his family moved to Ceres in his early years, according to his biography on the Sheriff's Office website. He graduated from Ceres High in 1992 and attended Modesto Junior College where he received his associate’s degree in Administration of Justice. He later transferred to Union Institute & University in Cincinnati and obtained both a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Management and master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

Prior to his stop in Merced, Framstad worked at the Modesto Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office and the Livingston Police Department, according to his Linkedin profile. In addition to his experience in law enforcement, Framstad is an adjunct professor at Merced Community College District.

Framstad did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

The agreement will be more than nine years, with the term ending on Dec. 31,2035. He will be paid $173,856 annually with a 3% pay increase after 10 years. The Santa Cruz native will also receive various benefits, including four weeks of paid vacation and 12 sick days per year.

A swearing ceremony will be held for Framstad in the next city council meeting on July 28.

“Very excited to see Framstad come here,” said Newman Mayor Casey Graham. “He seems like a very nice guy [with] a lot of experience.”