BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville has appointed an acting police chief. Deputy Police Chief Mark Gill was given the title yesterday effective immediately in place of Chief Todd Ramsey.

Ramsey will be on medical leave for the remainder of the year.

Linville says the search is underway for a new chief of police.

She was accepting applications through today and will begin interviewing candidates next month with the hopes of selecting a new chief by the end of the year.

Fifty-six-year-old Gill has been with the department for more than 30 years, but says he is not an applicant for the position.