At Monday’s Ann Arbor City Council meeting, Mayor John Hieftje and City Administrator Steven Powers will recommend that the “interim” be dropped from John Seto’s title as interim police chief of the Ann Arbor Police Department.

Upon council approval, Seto will become the full-time police chief and the safety services area administrator — the city’s charter states that the police chief also holds this position, which oversees the police and fire departments.

Seto’s recommendation, first reported by AnnArbor.com, comes after Seto served as the interim chief since March 7.

Seto, an Eastern Michigan University alum, has worked for the AAPD since 1990 and previously worked for the University.

Hieftje said Seto was destined for the role.

“If you look back over John’s entire career, it was easy to see that he was a leader and that he was on a path that was going to bring him to the top of the organization,” Hieftje said.

Hieftje added that Seto will be an ideal chief for the University town of Ann Arbor, which has a campus police force — the University’s Department of Public Safety — as well.

“John has long experience working with U of M’s Department of Public Safety, and in fact, we have some officers that used to be with the Ann Arbor Police Department that are working over there,” Hieftje said. “We have great rapport with them.”

In an interview, Powers said Seto was the obvious choice to permanently fill the position.

“John meets the needs that the department has for a strong leader who will serve the community and help police and fire accomplish their mission of protecting and serving the public,” Powers said.

Powers said Seto was chosen after looking at other candidates from within the system.

“I felt that it was healthy for the safety services departments to have an internal candidate if there was a strong internal candidate, and John was that candidate,” Powers said.

Seto is a member of the Student Safety Workgroup, a collaboration between AAPD, the Department of Public Safety, the Division of Student Affairs and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center that promotes student safety. In a January interview, Seto praised the group and noted the need for a safer campus.

In 2010, Seto worked with student leaders to address the need for improved student behavior on football Saturdays.

In an interview, Seto said he's delighted to be recommended for the job.

“It's an honor to be offered the position, and I'm thankful that it's going before Council consideration,” Seto said. “This is a great city and a great police and fire department.”

Seto said he hopes the time he spent as interim police chief will make the transition into the job easy.

“The last four months (have) been a lot of work and I've learned quite a bit, but it’s all been very rewarding,” Seto said. “So I'm also grateful to have that opportunity to make this transition hopefully a little easier.”

Seto said he wants to continue to have a strong relationship with DPS, the University and students.

“I look forward to continuing that relationship,” he said.