CURTIS BRISTOL, FROM Charlotte in lower Michigan, has been hired as the new police chief in Iron River. He will start April 10. (Nikki Younk/Daily News photo)

IRON RIVER — Iron River has tapped a police sergeant from downstate Michigan to be its new police chief.

Curtis Bristol was sworn in before Wednesday’s city council meeting and will begin his duties April 10.

Bristol comes in with about 26 years of experience and a recent supervisory role with the police department in Charlotte, about 21 miles southwest of Lansing in Eaton County.

He said his main goal will be to create a community-oriented police department.

“People will know me and the officers,” he said. “I look forward to meeting everyone.”

Iron River City Manager David Thayer said he believes Bristol will be committed to excellence and have a positive influence on the officers.

“We are very fortunate to have the caliber of a person as Bristol to want to come to Iron River as our new chief,” he said. “Curtis has the demeanor and respect for our citizens that I was looking for in a chief. I believe he will provide the leadership we need in taking our police department in a new direction, with emphasis on community policing.”

Bristol said he visited the area after seeing the job advertised and felt an immediate connection to Iron River. After interviewing, he was comfortable with Thayer’s vision for the police department, he said.

Per the Iron River city charter, the city manager has the power to hire or fire non-union city employees such as the police chief.

With Bristol’s hiring, the Iron River Police Department has one full-time chief, three full-time officers and three part-time officers, Thayer said.

Roy D’Antonio, who has served as interim chief since Thayer fired former chief Laura Frizzo in December, will continue as a part-time officer and assist Bristol in his transition to chief, Thayer added.

When asked about the controversy surrounding Frizzo’s termination, Bristol simply said he wants to move the police department forward.

The city council discussed in closed session Wednesday a pending lawsuit Frizzo filed against Thayer and the council. Thayer said the discussion was just a briefing and the council took no action.

Frizzo’s lawsuit, filed March 3, seeks reinstatement to her old job and at least $25,000 in compensation. She claims Thayer and the council violated a gender discrimination law, the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act of Michigan and the Open Meetings Act.

Thayer, under the advice of City Attorney Mark Tousignant, did not comment on what would happen to Bristol if Frizzo wins her lawsuit for reinstatement.

In other business, the council Wednesday:

— Accepted the low bid of $107,000 from Hebert Construction of Iron River to tear down the former Wardo’s building on Genesee Street. Demolition will begin as soon as the weather allows, Thayer said, and should be complete by May 1.