Wilmington mayor talks new police chief

Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams will have a major announcement to make in the weeks ahead.

On Wednesday, Williams stopped by WHYY’s studio in Wilmington, where he spoke about crime trends and a new program designed to stanch criminal behavior entitled “Cure Violence.” The new anti-crime program is slated to begin later this month, and could be followed by another significant unveiling: the results of a national search for Wilmington’s new police chief.

“There’ll be a chief by the first week of May,” Williams said on Wednesday.

While Williams hesitated to disclose additional details about the search for a chief, other city leaders have made statements about their preferences for the top cop slot.

On last week’s episode of “First,” Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory issued support for Acting Chief Bobby Cummings. Cummings took the helm of the approximately 300-member department after Chief Christine Dunning retired in January.

Dunning, a 27-year veteran of the Wilmington Police Department, now works as an assistant to New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon.

Tune into First this Friday at 5:30 p.m and again at 11:00 p.m to hear Mayor Williams’ thoughts on the police chief search, crime and the local economy.