PORTLAND — Michael Sauschuck has been selected to serve as city’s 19th police chief by City Manager Mark Rees.

The City Council is to consider Sauschuck for confirmation on Feb. 6. Sauschuck, a 15-year veteran of the department, has been serving as acting chief since August.

“After a rigorous and competitive search, I am confident that we have found the right person for the position,” Rees said in a prepared statement released this morning. “Mike’s commitment to public service, the police department and the community is unparalleled. He knows and loves this city, and the community will be well served by the Police Department being under his leadership.”

After serving in the Marines, Sauschuck worked as a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department before joining Portland’s force.

In Portland, his experience has included work on the crisis intervention team, special reaction team and as a field training officer. He became assistant chief in March 2011, under then-Chief James Craig. Sauschuck has been serving as acting chief since August, when Craig left he post for a job in Cincinnati.

Sauschuck has been overseeing a department of more than 100 employees and an annual budget of $13.4 million.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to not only build upon our prior successes but further expand upon and create programs that will improve the safety and quality of life for the people of Portland,” Sauschuck said in a statement.

The announcement by Rees follows a five-month national search for a new police chief. More than 80 people applied for the job and five candidates were invited for an in-depth interview process.