The city of Marion will begin noticing a familiar face with a different title. DeWayne Tennie was officially sworn in as Marion Police Chief on Thursday, following the retirement of Jim Grey earlier this year.
Tennie says his main goal is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.
“I think the citizens really want a police department they can be proud of and that’s my goal. It’s an honor to be named police chief here. I thank the mayor for trusting in me to move the police department forward,” said Tennie.
Corporal Bobby Davis with the Marion police department says with a new chief comes new changes, but he’s familiar.
“If someone comes off the street with a problem with one of his officers, he’ll bring you in the room with that person so that you guys can discuss it right there.” said Davis.
“During my twenty-seven years as an elected official here in Marion, this is the first time that I’ve ever witnessed a community washing police cars, giving police a luncheon and even washing down the outside of the police station,” said Marion County Mayor Bobby Davis.
Chief DeWayne Tennie says the police department will be working closer with kids and senior citizens in the community.
“We have a little problem with the youth. But that is our main goal, to focus on the youth now and to get police officers out in the community to let them know that we are their friends and not their enemies,”said Tennie.
The Bennetsville cop video on social media inspires them to do more.
Tennie says that’s some of the stuff that we are going to be doing here in Marion. Instead of riding and patrolling all day, we are going to get out and do foot patrol.
Tennie has over twenty years of experience in law enforcement.