Chesterfield County selects new police chief

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After a months-long search, Chesterfield County has announced its new chief of police to the community. Lt. Col. Frank Carpenter starts today as the new police chief.

In March, former Chesterfield Police Chief Jeffrey Katz announced he was leaving the department in May to accept a position at the FBI. He had served for six years with the department.

“It has truly been an honor to work alongside my dedicated brothers and sisters in the Chesterfield County Police Department and to serve such an incredible community. There is no better place in the country to be a police chief,” Katz said.

Carpenter has been working for Chesterfield Police for 25 years and was appointed deputy chief of operations in July 2023.

“I am profoundly humbled by the Board of Supervisors choosing me to lead one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies,” said Carpenter. “The men and women of our department recognize the immense responsibility of serving a community that prioritizes public safety.”

The search for the county’s newest police chief included an application process and several community meetings where residents were asked to talk about leadership qualities and skills they think a police chief should have.

Audrey Carpenter is the Northern Virginia Bureau Chief for All Virginia News. She can be contacted at: audreycarpenter@allvirginia.news

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