RIDGECREST — Ridgecrest Police Chief Dale Cowan died Saturday afternoon at a hospital in Alexandria.

Cowan was a long-time officer for the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office and took over as police chief in Ridgecrest Jan. 1.

Ridgecrest Mayor Kevin Graham said he had been looking forward to working more with Cowan.

“He was a good guy, and he had a lot of knowledge of the law,” he said. “He would have done a good job.

“He dedicated his life to the CPSO.”

Graham said he knew Cowan was in the hospital, but the news of his death was a complete shock.

“He had some surgery, but I can’t go into detail because they aren’t releasing anything as of yet,” he said.

Graham also said he and the board of aldermen are going to have a meeting on Thursday about the open police chief position.

“We are going to have to find someone to appoint as interim chief until we can have the election,” he said. “Right now, there is a lot going on, and I am just as lost as everyone else.”