The search for the city of Langley’s new chief of police is over.

Langley Mayor Scott Chaplin has chosen top-scoring candidate Tavier Wasser for the role. Former chief Don Lauer retired Dec. 31 after serving five years in the department.

A South Whidbey High School alum, Wasser is a Clinton resident and a patrol deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office. He has served in the Marine Corps as a military policeman and Presidential Security Marine. The latter duty put him in charge of protecting the president and his assets during the Obama administration. He joined the Island County Sheriff’s Office in 2015.

Wasser’s role with Langley will be his first time serving as a chief of police.

“It was one of those things that just came available at the perfect time,” he said. “The whole time it felt just too good to be true. I’m excited for the challenge.”

Chaplin said it was “the nice icing on the cake” that the best candidate for the job already lives on Whidbey Island. He said he liked Wasser’s skills of being a hostage negotiator and being open to self-reflection.

“We are still negotiating some final details on compensation, but I am not anticipating any issues,” Chaplin said in an email. “He will begin sometime this month and there will be a public ceremony sometime in the near future.”

The posting for the job listed a salary range of $73,000 to $97,000.

At a city council meeting Monday night, Chaplin said he was hoping the new chief could be sworn in at the next council meeting, which is April 18.