Wilmington officials optimistic about new police chief

 (City of Wilmington/Newsworks file)

(City of Wilmington/Newsworks file)

The decision to make Bobby Cummings the new head of the Wilmington Police Department has resulted in positive reactions from some city council members.

 “I believe it’s a great opportunity for the City of Wilmington to have a Wilmingtonian at the helm of the police department,” said 6th District Councilwoman Sherry Dorsey Walker. “I really respect Chief Cummings wholeheartedly; he’s already been doing a phenomenal job and I think he will do a phenomenal job.”

Both Walker and 7th District Councilman Robert Williams weren’t too surprised with Mayor Dennis Williams’ appointment of Cummings, who began his tenure as police chief on Friday.

“I worked with Bobby Cummings for 20 years,” said Councilman Williams. “I retired as a lieutenant from the police department five years ago; I knew right away that Bobby was the most proper choice.”

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During the four-month nationwide search for a police chief, Cummings juggled the role of the Interim Chief of Police and Inspector of Uniformed Operations. About 50 applicants from across the country applied for the position.

Williams said he never met any of the candidates, but heard that the process of elimination happened quickly.

“I don’t think anybody coming from another city could give an interview like Bobby because he knows this city, he knows the inner-workings of council, he knows the inner-workings of the mayor’s office and the inner-workings of the (police) department,” Williams said.

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