Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Opinions

Our View
Situation:	Mark Jenkins has been officially hired as Charleston's full-time police chief.
Stance:	The Charleston Police Department made the right decision in hiring Jenkins. He brings the necessary experience needed and is also familiar with the area.

Mark Jenkins knows Charleston.

A veteran of the Charleston Police Department, Jenkins was officially named the full-time police chief at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

This is the correct choice.

Jenkins has worked with the city's police department for 30 years and stepped in to fill the interim role in December after former police chief Paul Welch resigned to take on the same role in Edgewood, N.M.

We need a police chief in this city who knows and understands Charleston, how the city operates and the way the police department works.

Jenkins' experience here in Charleston speaks for itself. Anyone who has managed to stay on a police department for 30 years must have some sort of insight and wherewithal to maintain his job.

Yes, some people may hold onto their jobs for at least 30 years, but Jenkins' credentials show that he hasn't just stumbled upon this latest job.

He began his career with the Charleston Police as a dispatcher in 1977 and then became a patrolman. He held this position until 2005, when he was named one of two deputy chiefs. He stayed in the deputy chief position until Welch left, which moved Jenkins to the interim title.

City Manager Scott Smith said at the time, a full hire couldn't be made until a new city budget was complete.

With the budget process complete and waiting for City Council approval on April 18, Smith made the decision to appoint Jenkins.

And after Welch was hired, the city made a smart decision to hire within this time.

Much furor developed in January 2005 when Welch, an outside candidate who came to Charleston from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., became the full-time chief.

A vote of no confidence was given to Smith by a local police lodge after Welch was approved.

Welch spent the majority of his early time in office trying to know the people of the community.

Jenkins won't have to spend additional time worrying about that process. Key relationships have been developed and nurtured during the last 30 years.

Jenkins said in January, after having the interim tag for a little more than a month, that communication between Eastern and the Charleston police is vital.

It's reassuring to know someone who knows this city and Eastern the way Jenkins does is now the one officially in charge of keeping us safe.

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