By Staff
By CHRISTINA HALE and DAN PARSONS, Staff Writers
Washington has a new police chief.
James Smith, Washington city manager, announced Monday that Glenn Mitchel “Mick” Reed, 50, the current police chief in South Boston, Va., will take over as chief June 4.
Reed has served as the Chief of Police for South Boston — a town approximately 8,500 residents — since 2004. He previously worked at the Salem Police Department in Virginia for over 24 years.
The selection process started with over 90 candidates. Surveys, both from the community and the Washington Police Department, a citizen advisory committee and a professional recruiting agency were used to find the best person for the position.
The chief should have “a strong educational background and be actively continuing their education,” Smith said in a previous interview.
Reed has a bachelor’s degree from Bluefield College in administration of justice and has a background in continuing education. He attended executive management programs at the University of Richmond and North Carolina State University.
Reed said he visited Washington prior to the city’s search for a new police chief. “I fell in love with the area and the city,” he said.
Reed believes in community policing, he said. “I’m a strong believer in the concept … which requires the police department to maintain a dialogue with the business community and all segments of our community,” he said.
Reed is married and has two grown children. He said the move was a “difficult choice.”
The first thing on his agenda as chief is to “get out and meet the community,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”