ACHILLE, Okla. -- Achille has a new police chief after recent controversies surrounding the police department.

Former chief Chris Watson was fired and four officers were suspended last month after a search at the home of a City Council member.

Stephen Isedeh was sworn in Tuesday night to take over the department.

"It's most important for us to re-establish the trust that may or may not have been broken between the police department and the community," he said.

Isadeh expressed the importance of establishing relationships with citizens.

"It's important for us to get out and actually talk to people -- you know, kind of just that one-on-one rapport with them -- build personal relationships versus just a professional-versus-citizen interacting with the police," he said.

The new chief has ideas to bring non-profit organizations to the town and to get students involved.

"Officers get more involved with the school and with the students," Isadeh said. "Going around speaking with them, I've always believed that if you can get to the heart of the kids, you can get to the heart of the parents."

Chief Isadeh said his goal is to rebuild that trust.

"It's going to be a challenge," he conceded. "Nothing's going to change overnight. We have a reputation that the department has to build, and so moving forward I just hope that everyone keeps an open mind and that everyone is willing to work with us so that we can all come together as one."

Chief Isadeh has had a career in law enforcement across Oklahoma since 2011.