CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Monday marked the first day on the job for Charleston's new Police Chief.
Chief Luther Reynolds was sworn in at a special ceremony, ending the city's seven-month search to fill the spot vacated when former Chief Greg Mullen retired in August 2017.
Dozens of police officers and local officials attended Reynolds' swearing in, including Solicitor Scarlett Wilson and Sheriff Al Cannon.
Mayor John Tecklenburg and former Mayor Joe Riley spoke, but before introducing Reynolds, they praised Interim Chief Jerome Taylor. Taylor was also up for the position.
"Chief Taylor has done a terrific job as our Interim Chief and 45 years of service to the Charleston Police Department is just remarkable," Tecklenburg said.
"You know, looks are really deceiving," Riley joked. "If you look at Jerome Taylor and you look at me, you'd bet that I served a heck of a lot longer than he did."
Reynolds comes from Montgomery County, Maryland, where he served for 30 years. He said he hopes to carry on a positive culture within the Charleston Police Department.
"I'm very excited to be with the City of Charleston," Reynolds said. "I've met with the command staff and a lot of the officers and I've begun to go out in the communities and the more that I see, the more that I learn, the more excited I become."