About two years ago, Philadelphia Police Lt. Joel Fitzgerald thought he was going to be Coatesville's next police chief. An appointed search committee decided he was the best candidate. City Manager Harry Walker had city attorneys draft a contract for him.

But at the last minute, Walker reportedly called Fitzgerald and said he decided to go in a different direction. Instead, Walker recommended and City Council approved William Matthews from Maryland, who subsequently was the chief here for the last two years and recently resigned.

Two years ago, Fitzgerald spoke with me about the interview process with Coatesville (which turned out to be a questionable process), during which he expressed great interest in becoming a police chief. After Coatesville's rejection, Fitzgerald continued to search for such a job. And this month he will be named police chief in Missouri City, Texas.

Read about his appointment here.