PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The city of Portsmouth named a new police chief just a few months after the former chief, Tonya Chapman, claims she was forced to resign.
Angela Greene has held the title of interim chief since March, but the city has now made her role permanent.
Greene will begin her duties as chief effective immediately.
She's been the police department's assistant police chief since August 2016 and has 19 years under her belt in public safety service in a municipality.
“We’re excited. We’re delighted she’s our police chief," said City Manager, Lydia Pettis Patton.
“Through her leadership, professional history, community vision, and commitment to public safety and public service, Chief Greene will continue to serve the City of Portsmouth with excellence as our new Police Chief. Please join me in congratulating Chief Angela M. Greene,” said Dr. Patton.
At the ceremony, Greene had family and other police chiefs from across Hampton Roads supporting her as she swore into the new role.
“It’s a great day for Portsmouth. I’m so proud of our new police chief," said Portsmouth Mayor, John Rowe.
Greene is officially the 24th police chief for the city's department.
Immediately after getting sworn-in, she addressed the controversy leading into her new role, head on.
Greene said, “this was a pivotal time in our department.”
Greene says since taking charge, the department went through mandatory training on diversity and implicit bias.
Since then, she says she’s seen much-needed unity between employees.
“Whether it’s true or not true, there’s always room for improvement. So it actually gave us the chance and ability to actually work together to make our bond stronger," said Chief Greene.
With gratitude for her family and community, she’s now diving into the new role.
"I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m very excited.”
She's asking the community three things now. One, for them to continue to bring officers their problems so they can be solved together. Two, for people to become more engaged with security in their own neighborhood. Three, to remember officers are humans too under intense pressure they handle day to day.