Dover, Delaware city council members on Monday signed off on the selection of Upper Darby Police Capt. Tom Johnson as Dover’s next police chief. This marks the first time the city will hire an external candidate for chief of police in more than seven decades, reports wboc.com.

At the council’s regular meeting, Mayor Robin Christiansen announced that the city’s police chief selection committee had chosen Johnson as the city’s next chief of police. A vote by council consenting to the decision occurred shortly thereafter.

Christiansen said Johnson, working for Upper Darby, the largest municipal agency in Delaware County, was determined to be a strong choice for the job.

“His interview demonstrated his knowledge of today’s police trends and needs as well as his understanding of the administrative side of the police agency,” he said.

Johnson was selected from a pool of more than 20 applicants that was winnowed down to six candidates. None of those candidates currently worked for city law enforcement. 

Johnson is a 24-year veteran of the Upper Darby Police Department. He also has experience as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.

“One of the things I have asked him to do, and he will do, is develop leadership from within the Dover Police Department,” Christiansen said.

Read more about Capt. Tom Johnson’s selection here.

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