YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The Ypsilanti Police Department has named Lt. Amy Walker as its new police chief.

Former police chief Matt Harshberger retired in May and interim police chief Paul DeRidder has been filling in.

Walker will take over for DeRidder, who will return to his previous position as a lieutenant.

Walker's appointment is effective Jan. 4. The department said negotiations over her salary would begin in early January.

Walker began at Eastern Michigan University's Department of Public Safety in 1987 and was hired by the Ypsilanti Police Department in 1992.

She received a promotion to lieutenant in 2007.

City Manager Ed Koryzno said Walker's community involvement was a deciding factor in the decision to appoint her.