The City of Dover has a new police chief.
WBOC TV reports that the Dover City Council voted Monday night to hire Upper Darby, Pennsylvania Police Captain Thomas Johnson.
It’s the first time in more than seven decades Dover has hired an external candidate to be its chief. He was picked from a group of 6 finalists that interviewed. 22 candidates applied for the job.
Johnson is currently Upper Darby’s Captain of Detectives and before that led its Division of Training and Professional Standards. He is also Upper Darby’s chief hostage and crisis negotiator.
Johnson has been Upper Darby Police Department since May 1996.
Dover’s search for a new chief began last September after Chief Marvin Mailey retired.
Deputy Tim Stump has been serving as interim chief while a five-member Selection Committee worked to fill the position. Stump plans to stay on board to help the new chief transition.
It’s not yet clear when Johnson will take over Dover’s Police Department.