The Police and Fire Commission announced their failure as of yet to nominate the next police chief Tuesday night.

Since former Police Chief Richard Williams’ retirement in April, the four members of the PFC have endured several lengthy closed-door sessions. The sessions have been unable to determine a police chief nomination because of divided support.

The commission is currently considering three candidates for chief — the currently acting Madison Chief of Police Noble Wray, Capt. Cheri Maples and Sgt. Mike Koval.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz recently appointed Shiva Bidar-Sielaff as a fifth member into the PFC.

The committee’s decision will now rest on Bidar-Sielaff as the tie-breaking vote. Time, however, remains a factor as the PFC must now incorporate Bidar-Sielaff into the entire nomination process.

The City Council is first expected to confirm Bidar-Sielaff’s appointment at their Sept. 21 meeting. Following her appointment, Bidar-Sielaff will review background information into the appointment process and study the applications of the three candidates. Bidar-Sielaff will then be scheduled to interview the candidates.

Once Bidar-Sielaff is ready, the commission will vote again in October, according to a release.

Bidar-Sielaff grew up in Spain and obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hainaut School of International Interpreters in Belgium. She also received a master’s degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif.

Bidar-Sielaff has been involved in several city organizations around Madison including the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.

Bidar-Sielaff was awarded the Dane County Public Health Leadership Award for Multicultural Health Care in 2002.

She speaks English, Spanish, French and Farsi and was named one of the 50 most influential people in Madison by Madison Magazine.