Newark Advocate
NEWARK Mayor Jeff Hall said civil service rules required he appoint Erik McKee as police chief, but he would have chosen McKee regardless.
Hall said he had to pick from the trio remaining from last year’s civil service list and appoint the top scorer on the civil service test.
“He has a very positive attitude and is well engaged in the community,” the mayor said of the new chief.
Deputy police chiefs McKee, Darrin Logan and Craig Riley interviewed for the job in 2020, when Safety Director Steve Baum was appointed, and remained candidates following Baum’s sudden death on March 30. Baum received the highest test score last year, when McKee earned the second-highest score.
Mayor Hall announces appointment of McKee as Newark police chief newarkadvocate.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newarkadvocate.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Hundreds gather to remember Newark Police Chief Steve Baum in Heath
Newark Advocate
HEATH - There was a mix of laughter and tears as over 200 gathered to remember Newark Police Chief Steve Baum, a man who many said was larger than life, on Tuesday.
Baum, 54, died last week after suffering a medical emergency at his home. He was hired by the Newark Division of Police in 1993, serving the department as patrol officer, detective, sergeant and captain, and then became safety director in 2016, before receiving the mayoral appointment to police chief last year.
At Heath Church of Christ, Pastor David Linn began the service by thanking God for words of comfort, and the huge footprint Baum left behind on his family, friends and community. He prayed for Baum s family and his law enforcement family as they grieve his loss.
Funeral arrangements set for Newark police chief newarkadvocate.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newarkadvocate.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
City council president stepping down at the end of the month
Cliff Biggers leaving role after 9 years as he looks to return to Newark
COSHOCTON – The first Black president in the history of Coshocton City Council will stepdown as of March 31.
Cliff Biggers said he and his wife, Jennifer, recently sold their home and were looking to move back to Licking County, where they came from in 1983. Biggers served as pastor at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church for 29 years, retiring in August 2019. He s also retired as a detective with the Newark Division of Police. After I got finished pastoring a church for 29 years, my wife and I have discussed for years, what would we do after that, Biggers said I think I was put here to serve in many capacities, but mainly to those who are down and downtrodden, those who are overlooked and left behind.