By Mike McCombs
The Island News
The next man up, at least for now, is a woman.
Deputy Police Chief Stephenie Price was sworn in as the interim Chief of Police of the Beaufort Police Department on Monday, Jan. 22.
The (at least temporary) promotion comes after Police Chief Dale McDorman announced his retirement, effective January 26, after nearly 29 years with the Beaufort Police Department.
Price joined the Beaufort Police Department a year ago, after serving as Town of Bluffton Police Chief and as an Assistant Police Chief for the Savannah, Ga., Police Department.
“I think that this is an amazing department,” Price told The Island News. “It’s full of talented men and women who want to do the best for the community and move law enforcement forward. I am tuly thankful, honored and humble to be interim chief.”
Price, a Missouri native, has a law enforcement background in training and certification, drug enforcement, vice, domestic violence, internal affairs, and financial services. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Park University and a master’s in business administration from Benedictine University.
Price is a graduate of the Center for Homeland Defense Executive Leaders Program, the FBI LEEDA Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives, the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police, and most recently, she obtained a certification from the International City Management Association.
City Manager Scott Marshall, who swore in Price on Monday, said in a news release, “I trust Interim Chief Price to effectively lead the department while we search for a new chief of police. She possesses the necessary experience and leadership attributes to keep the department moving forward.”
Marshall said that the search will include input from citizens and from City Council.
“I think it’s important to include public feedback and to be as transparent as possible when considering a hire for a position like this,” he said.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
