Howard County has its first female and first African-American police chief.County Executive Calvin Ball named Lisa Myers, a retired Howard County police captain, as the department's new chief at a news conference Tuesday morning."Lisa Myers is a professional who is not only well-respected, but she has 27 years of working her way up through the Police Department, but she shares my vision of ensuring that we have a safe Howard County," Ball said."I think me being an African-American female breaks the glass ceiling for both minorities as well as women in our Police Department," Myers said. "I think (it's good) for our community to see minorities reflecting the community that we serve in the Police Department, as well as having minorities in leadership."Myers had previously retired in January 2018 as the commander of the Human Resources Bureau, overseeing Employment Services and the Education and Training Division.Myers began her career in 1990 as a civilian Crime Laboratory technician. She entered the police academy in 1994 and worked within various components of the Police Department, including as the chief of staff, patrol division watch commander, supervisor of youth services and public information officer.Myers follows former Chief Gary Gardner, who retired. Gardner worked with Myers and said he thinks she's a good choice for top cop."You really have to put your heart and soul into being the chief to be available to the citizenry at all times, 24/7, and I think Lisa has that ability to do that," Gardner said.Myers said she's excited to start the job Feb. 1, and since she's familiar with the department, she said she can jump right in."Certainly, my first order of business is to do a comprehensive assessment of our programs, but I definitely want to make sure our crime-fighting strategies are where they need to be. I want to work on enhancing our relationships with the public and our community partners," Myers said.

Howard County has its first female and first African-American police chief.

County Executive Calvin Ball named Lisa Myers, a retired Howard County police captain, as the department's new chief at a news conference Tuesday morning.

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"Lisa Myers is a professional who is not only well-respected, but she has 27 years of working her way up through the Police Department, but she shares my vision of ensuring that we have a safe Howard County," Ball said.



"I think me being an African-American female breaks the glass ceiling for both minorities as well as women in our Police Department," Myers said. "I think (it's good) for our community to see minorities reflecting the community that we serve in the Police Department, as well as having minorities in leadership."

Myers had previously retired in January 2018 as the commander of the Human Resources Bureau, overseeing Employment Services and the Education and Training Division.

Myers began her career in 1990 as a civilian Crime Laboratory technician. She entered the police academy in 1994 and worked within various components of the Police Department, including as the chief of staff, patrol division watch commander, supervisor of youth services and public information officer.

Myers follows former Chief Gary Gardner, who retired. Gardner worked with Myers and said he thinks she's a good choice for top cop.

"You really have to put your heart and soul into being the chief to be available to the citizenry at all times, 24/7, and I think Lisa has that ability to do that," Gardner said.

Myers said she's excited to start the job Feb. 1, and since she's familiar with the department, she said she can jump right in.

"Certainly, my first order of business is to do a comprehensive assessment of our programs, but I definitely want to make sure our crime-fighting strategies are where they need to be. I want to work on enhancing our relationships with the public and our community partners," Myers said.



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New @hcpdnews Chief Lisa Myers greeting colleagues. Myers is the first female and African American Chief #wbal pic.twitter.com/CLmKyvLslY — Kim Dacey WBAL (@kimdaceywbal) January 8, 2019

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Standing room only at ceremony to announce new #howardcounty police Chief Lisa Myers #wbal pic.twitter.com/ZpftzkWGGj — Kim Dacey WBAL (@kimdaceywbal) January 8, 2019

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