FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: October 21, 2014 Chief Jim Johnson HUNTINGTON – The process of hiring 10 new police officers in the Huntington Police Department is moving forward. The funding for the additional officers was proposed by Mayor Steve Williams and unanimously approved by Huntington City Council members in July. While it will be January until new officers are hired, the additional funding already has allowed the Police Department to make personnel adjustments that have benefited Operation: River to Jail, according to Police Chief Jim Johnson. In addition to hiring 10 new officers, Council members approved the hiring of a civilian IT technician position that had been filled by a police officer. The civilian IT technician position was filled with a trained individual, allowing Lt. Chuck Kingery to be assigned as the midnight shift supervisor. Kingery takes with him years of experience and training in the field of law enforcement to guide and direct officers on the midnight shift. The previous midnight shift supervisor, Lt. Eric Corder, has been assigned to a newly-formed position as the special investigative liaison officer. Corder is now responsible for the execution of arrest warrants, partnering with the U.S. Marshals Service. During his first week in the new position, Corder brought in 12 fugitives from justice and made 10 felony and three misdemeanor arrests. He has also alleviated the strain placed on the department’s Special Investigations Bureau caused by its efforts to rid the city of illegal narcotics and drug dealers through the Operation: River to Jail initiative. In 2013, the Special Investigations Bureau made 156 felony arrests. With two-and-a-half months to go in 2014, the bureau has already made 160 felony arrests. As for hiring new officers, 303 applicants signed up to take the civil service exam. Of those applicants, 107 passed the physical agility test. Those applicants moved on to the written test, 52 of whom passed. Those applicants will now undergo a background check and polygraph test. The West Virginia State Police’s next training academy is scheduled for January. Another training academy will be conducted in April.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 17:29:36 +0000
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