
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 5, 1990                   TAG: 9005070351
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VALLEY CHOICE/ A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR NEW CHIEF

NO MATTER who Roanoke County's first police chief is, he's likely to get off to a good start with his counterparts in other valley jurisdictions.

That's because they've helped to hire him.

County Administrator Elmer Hodge expects to name the chief next week from a group of 10 finalists for the job. The field was narrowed by a committee made up of the chiefs of police of Roanoke City, Salem and Vinton, and the county commonwealth's attorney and fire chief.

Hodge's idea for the committee composition was inspired.

Who knows better the qualities needed by a good police chief than another chief - police or fire - or a prosecutor who works closely with law-enforcement officials?

And what better way to ensure that the new chief's peers will be pulling for his success than by involving them in the hiring process?

The committee had its work cut out: There were 150 applicants for the chief's job. In trimming the list, the members undoubtedly got plenty of Hodge's idea for the committee composition was inspired. Who knows better the qualities needed by a good police chief than another chief - police or fire . . .? practice in interjurisdictional communication.

That means the committee's work probably will benefit law enforcement in the entire Roanoke Valley.

Should consolidation of Roanoke City and County be approved by the voters in November, the transition to a single police department ought to be smoother.

Should it be rejected, there may be greater regional cooperation anyway.

by CNB