Joe Ciccarelli, a retired FBI special
agent who got his start with the Huntington Police Department, was tapped as
the city’s next police chief Monday.
Huntington Mayor Steve Williams
announced the hiring of Ciccarelli, who has served in law enforcement for 36
years.
“Joe
Ciccarelli understands our city, our opportunities and our challenges,”
Williams said in a release. “He is equipped to move our police department
forward immediately. His career path is familiar to me. He began his career
here and advanced through the ranks to the highest levels of his given
profession, all the while having an eye on coming home.”
Most of Ciccarelli’s career has
involved working with the FBI, which he joined in 1984.
“I hope to translate the experience
I’ve gained in various assignments throughout my career into positive results
for the police department and the city,” he said. “The brave men and women of
the Huntington Police Department deserve the best leadership possible and all
my efforts will be directed toward seeing that they get that every day.”
The hire was applauded Monday by U.S.
Attorney Booth Goodwin.
“I have known and worked with Joe
Ciccarelli for many years during his time as a special agent with the FBI,”
Goodwin said. “He has long been a leader in the law enforcement community in
southern West Virginia
Goodwin announced a $100,000 federal
crime fighting grant for the city Monday.
Ciccarelli said he hopes to continue
the momentum in the department started by former chief Skip Holbrook and chief
Jim Johnson who has served while the search process has taken place.
Ciccarelli began his career with HPD in
1978.
