Interim Chief of Charleston Police Chito Walker will be Charleston’s new police chief, Mayor John Tecklenburg announced today.
Walker, a 23-year veteran of the department, took the job as interim chief July 13 after the death of late Chief Luther Reynolds. Today’s announcement came during a 1 p.m. press conference at Washington Square.
“Serving the citizens of Charleston as a member of the Charleston Police Department has been the honor of a lifetime, and I’m deeply grateful to Mayor [John] Tecklenburg for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Walker said in a statement. “There’s no question that our department is home to the finest law enforcement professionals in the country, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as its next leader.
“I look forward to continuing to work alongside the remarkable men and women of our department to build trust, promote transparency and keep our community safe.”
The announcement marks the conclusion of the city’s formal search process led by its Police Executive Research Forum which began in June of this year. Charleston City Council is expected to confirm Walker’s appointment during its next meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 10.
“I’d like to thank Chief Walker for his willingness to serve our city in this critical role and for his lifelong dedication to public safety,” Tecklenburg said in a statement. “Charleston is blessed with the most outstanding police department in the nation, so it comes as no surprise that our next great chief of police is one of our own.
“I’m confident that Chief Walker’s strong leadership, clear vision and extensive experience make him a natural fit to lead the department, and I look forward to working with him to keep our city and our citizens safe.”
An Upstate native, Walker first entered the department in 2000 as a patrol officer. He then served as a detective and member of the SWAT Team. He was promoted to deputy chief in March 2020. He also served as division commander of Professional Standards, which encompasses Internal Affairs; the Office of Professional Development and Training; and the Recruiting and Retention Unit.
Walker holds a bachelor’s degree from South Carolina State University in criminal justice and a master’s degree in management from Webster University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Department of Homeland Security, Leadership Academy and the S.C. Command College.
Walker is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and holds professional affiliations with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the National Tactical Officer Association.
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