Immediately after Chief Gerald Sanders announced his May 1999 retirement, a nationwide search was launched for his successor.

As candidates were being interviewed by the city manager, someone needed to serve as chief in the event no one had been selected by the time Sanders left office.

Since the news of Sanders retirement was somewhat abrupt, and a new chief still had not been selected when he left on April 16, 1999, Assistant Chief Keith Enerson was chosen as his interim replacement. 

At the time of his appointment Chief Enerson was a 38-year-veteran of the SDPD and had served in the departments number two capacity during Sanders term.

INTERIM CHIEF KEITH W. ENERSON

05/16/1999 - 05/27/1999