By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Stephanie Price has been chosen as the new Police Chief for the City of Beaufort, according to a release sent out Friday morning, May 24.
Price has been acting as the Interim Chief of Police since the former Chief, Dale McDorman, retired in January.
On Friday, May 17, Price was one of two finalists who were interviewed by a Citizens’ Panel and City Council.
The interviews came following an “extensive nationwide executive search” according to the release.
“We trusted our selection process and it yielded two very highly qualified finalists, each capable of successfully leading our Police Department,” said City Manager Scott Marshall. “It was not an easy decision, but in the end the successful community outreach programs and crime abatement initiatives under her leadership, along with the community’s familiarity with her, gave Stephanie the edge.”
Price was hired for the position over Ken Klamar, Chief of the Sunset Beach, N.C. Police Department.
During her interview, Price pointed to several initiatives that she has led since joining the joining the department, one in specific that was mentioned was the Safe Living Beaufort initiative, in which the Beaufort Police Department has set up substations at apartment complexes in the city.
Currently there are stations at Spanish Trace Apartments, Cross Creek Apartments and Mossy Oaks Village with a fourth planned for Garden Oaks Apartment in July.
“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the chief of police for the City of Beaufort,” Price said. “My heartfelt thanks go out to the selection committee, City officials and the community for their unwavering support and trust in our organization and in me.”
Price joined the Beaufort Police Department as deputy chief in Feb. 2023, after serving in Bluffton as Police Chief and in Savannah, Ga. as Assistant Police Chief.
According to the release, most of her earlier career was spent with the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department primarily working in financial services, drug enforcement, vice, domestic violence and internal affairs.
She began with them in 1999 and by 2019 had risen to the rank of Commander.
Price graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Park University and got a Master of Business Administration from Benedictine University.
Since joining the Beaufort Police Department, Price has implemented initiatives to bolster community relations, youth engagement, crime prevention and transparency and communication, according to the release.
Price will be sworn in on Friday, May 31.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
