City of Marion looking for new police chief

The City of Marion is looking for a police chief.

The council accepted the resignation of current Chief Tony Bufford at their Aug. 5 meeting.

“Chief Bufford has resigned. He turned in his two-week notice,” Marion Mayor Dexter Hinton reported. “Now our job is to put someone in place. We have followed the proper protocol and posted the position.”

Kendrick Howell, an officer with 17 years in law enforcement, will be appointed the Interim Police Chief, according to Hinton.

No reason has been given publicly as to why Chief Bufford quit. “Based on good name and character, I have nothing further to say about Chief Bufford,” Hinton said. “He did his job while he was here, and now he’s submitted his resignation, and we’re looking to replace him.”

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Hinton said the department has had issues scheduling maintenance. “We want to move forward not backwards,” Hinton said. “We’re trying to increase our public safety.”

In addition to the police chief, Marion is looking for more police officers. “We need more officers; we need more recruitment,” Hinton said. Hinton said officers can continue their training and education while working for Marion, and he said they will promote from within.

“Lt. Bob Roulaine has continued his education and gotten re-certified,” Hinton said. “And we sent Officer Jeremy Mims to school, and he got his investigator training. He’s now a certified investigator.”

The city Of Marion has other jobs open as well. You can check their website for more information at www.cityofmarional.org/employment-opportunities.