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Newport News names new police chief

Richmond Police Deputy Chief Steve Drew will head up the Newport News Police Department.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., (WVEC) -- City Manager Cindy Rohlf said Thursday that Steve Drew, a deputy chief with the Richmond Police Department, would serve as the next Chief of the Newport News Police Department.

In his role in Newport News, Drew will oversee 600 sworn officers and non-sworn staff members. He also be responsible for oversight of the police department's annual operating budget of $49 million.

Drew began his law enforcement career 24 years ago with the Richmond Police Department, working his way up to deputy police chief in 2015. In that role, he directed patrol services and business services. Drew held many leadership positions in the department's Narcotics Division, Citywide Gun and Drug Enforcement Unit, Major Crimes Division, and Patrol Operations. He also is credited with creating and implementing the 4th Precinct Community Response Team, the Organized Crime Street Level Narcotics Unit and a Plain Clothes Street Crimes Unit.

"Being selected as the next chief of police for the Newport News Police Department is the greatest honor of my career,” said Drew. “I am humbled but also incredibly excited to be selected to lead this excellent organization. The greatest assets we have in this organization are the men and women who serve this community. Community plays a vital role in today’s policing landscape. No organization can succeed without the public’s support. The Newport News Police Department will continue to grow in excellence as it serves this dynamic, historic city."

Drew could continue some of the things his predecessor former-Chief Richard Myers was known for, including community policing and making rounds to speak to neighborhood groups. Myers left in 2017 after accepting a position with the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

“We have a citizens’ academy,” Drew said at a past Richmond City Council meeting. “We have open forums all over the city. There's twelve sector lieutenants that hold public meetings monthly, probably one a week, where we try to address any of those questions that come up.”

In the months before Myers stepped down, he started to push for more transparency. He held media briefings on big cases almost weekly. On the other hand, over in Richmond lately, some community activists have criticized RPD for a slow release of information in controversial cases.

“It's important to remember as we see in other cases that the case has to take its course and to make quick judgments causes unrest and a lot of concern,” Drew explained to council members. “So, I think transparency is key.”

At the council meeting, Drew addressed a concerned citizen, who came to ask for more openness.

“I do think we get it right, but I think we can always improve,” he added.

Drew, who holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Urbana University and a master’s degree in business from Colorado State University, will begin as chief of police on July 2. His annual salary with the Newport News Police Department will be $177,000.

Drew isn't the first Richmond Police official who came to lead a Hampton Roads department. When Portsmouth Chief Tonya Chapman started, she brought many RPD initiatives, including walks with faith leaders after homicides.

Now, we wait to see how Drew's time in the capital city will affect his tenure leading the Peninsula's largest police force.

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