“I believe we have found a chief who has both the skills to manage and the character to lead,” Stoney said at the news conference. “More importantly, I believe our new chief will uphold the high standards of fairness and service, of accountability and compassion, our city needs and our residents all deserve. As it turns out, our search for the best candidate led us to our own backyard.”

Smith is the first police chief in more than 50 years to be promoted from within RPD’s ranks. The last was Col. Frank S. Duling, who served as chief from 1967 to 1989, according to the department. The selection from within appears to be popular among the rank-and-file, as well as with city leaders. Those who were in the packed room for the announcement roared when Smith was officially introduced.

“It boosts morale,” said Sgt. Brad Nixon, president of the Richmond Coalition of Police. “We’re excited having a police chief for the first time in decades that is promoted from within the ranks. He is well-respected and the members have a lot of regard for him. We’ve worked with him on important issues in the past.”

J.J. Minor, the president of the Richmond chapter of the NAACP, attended the news conference and afterward said he too is happy to see someone in the position “who knows and is from Richmond.”