Hampstead Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Kenneth Meekins as the new police chief.
Mr. Meekins, 42, retired last year as a lieutenant with the Baltimore County Police Department. During his 23 years with the force, he worked as a community outreach commander and a supervisor in the internal affairs section.
"I intend to keep the doors open, the phones answered and open the lines of communication with the community, school system and businesses," Mr. Meekins said, after accepting the $33,000-a-year post. "I realize that the police departments of this area are the first line of government."
Mr. Meekins will supervise a staff of two officers and a recruit, who is expected to graduate from the Howard County Police Academy in June.
Hampstead Mayor Christopher M. Nevin selected Mr. Meekins to replace Kenneth F. Russell, 62, a member of the Hampstead police force since 1981 and police chief for the past 10 years.
Mr. Nevin said his decision to appoint a new chief was based on comments he had received over the past year regarding the police force's lack of response to citizen complaints and insufficient involvement with local businesses and the community.
Pub Date: 5/02/96
