After a long search, the city of Tracy has hired a deputy police chief to fill a position left vacant when former Capt. Mike Maciel retired last summer.

Rodman “Rick” Golphin, 47, has worked with the Oakland Police Department for the past 18 years, most recently as the commander of that department’s 84-person communications division. City spokesman Matt Robinson said Golphin has worked in gang suppression, administration, traffic enforcement and undercover narcotics investigations and as a division watch commander.

He also founded the Oakland Park Rangers, which included increased drug enforcement in parks in that city.

Golphin was not available for comment Monday but said in a statement released by the city that he applied for the Tracy job because it represents a new career challenge.

Robinson said Tracy police took longer than expected to find a deputy chief, but the process also requires extensive background checks on all candidates. He added that it was a nationwide search with 40 applicants. He said there were no candidates from within the Tracy Police Department.

Specific salary and benefit information for the new deputy chief was not available Monday, but Robinson said the salary range for the position is between $108,000 and $131,000.