Mailey announced as new Dover Police Chief

Marvin Mailey will take over as the 14th Dover Police Chief.

Mayor Robin Christiansen, committee put together to sort through applicants, and the city council announced the selection of Mailey Thursday evening at City Hall.  Mailey takes over following the retirement of Chief Paul Bernat earlier this year.

Mailey was a 1993 graduate of the Dover Police Academy and has 24 years of service in the department.  Over his tenure he has served in the Patrol Unit, with the DEA Task Force, the Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit, Patrol Unit Supervisor, Community Policing Supervisor, Internal Affairs, and most recently as Deputy Chief since April 2014.

"I was raised in this organization, I've been a Dover cop all my life," said Mailey.  "I know this city, I know the people, I have buy-in from the Police Department, from the community, from city council, from the mayor.  All that is going to help me be more successful."

He graduated in Class 364 of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, and is the recipient of four Distinguished Unit Awards, one Meritorious Service Award, Class A Commendation, and an Exceptional Performance Award, amongst others.

The search for a new chief spanned months with 34 applicants and six interviews.  Mayor Christiansen says though the process was challenged, it worked.

"When Police Chief Bernat retired that process was put into place.  There were people on this council who challenged it, there were people in the community who challenged it, but I stood fast and we followed through on that process, which ended here this evening."

James Hutchinson, a former Dover Police Chief and member of the committee to select the new chief, says Mailey will be challenged in many different directions.  But he says he noticed early on that Mailey had what it took for the job.

"I can remember when Marvin first came, and you see this once in a while, individuals that join a police organization and you recognize from the offset that they have the talent and the ability to be police chief one day if they want to.  He was one of those."

"We want to continue with our community outreach.  Body cameras is going to be a major thing, we probably won't see those until 2018, but we're in the process of pilots right now with three companies.  And we've got to do something to drop the violent crime," said Mailey on the tasks ahead.

A press conference will be held at City Hall Tuesday at 9 a.m.