From the City’s website:

John King Named Gaithersburg Police Chief

City Manager David Humpton announced today that John A. King
has been named Chief of Police for the City of Gaithersburg. He will be sworn in at the Mayor and Council meeting on June 4, 2007. With the assistance of a hiring consultant, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the City of Gaithersburg conducted an exhaustive national search for a department head to replace retiring Chief Mary Ann Viverette. There were over 50 applicants, and King was selected from a pool of six well-qualified finalists.

“I appreciate the feedback and assistance we received from the Police Chief’s Advisory Council and the entire community during this process,” said City Manager Humpton. “We were impressed by John’s commitment to community policing, with his extensive leadership experience, and with his innovative approaches to serving a diverse population. He has a long history in Montgomery County, and strong management capabilities that will serve our community well.”

A resident of Damascus, King comes to Gaithersburg from the position of Assistant Chief of Police for Montgomery County, Maryland, where he has been a member of the police department in various capacities since 1981. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Marist College, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore, and is a graduate of the 211th session of the FBI National Academy. He teaches community policing on a regular basis at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary, and in the fall of 2006 was selected by the State Department to assist the Romanian National Police with their transition to a more community-focused organization.

“I am excited about joining the City of Gaithersburg leadership team as Chief of Police,” said King. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to both work with the men and women of the Gaithersburg Police Department and to continue the excellent reputation established by Chief Mary Ann Viverette.”

The Gaithersburg Police Department is a nationally-accredited law enforcement agency of 49 sworn officers who share responsibility for services with the Montgomery County Police, providing coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Department responds to calls for service as necessary, and, when appropriate, utilizes community action teams to solve problems and deal with issues affecting the safety of all City neighborhoods.
For more information contact the City Manager’s Office at 301-258-6310 or cityhall@gaithersburgmd.gov.

Update:In related news, Montgomery County Chief Manger has announced that he has recommended 3rd District Commander Capt. Betsy Davis to replace Assistant Chief King.