The office of the Rome City Manager is pleased to announce Denise Downer-McKinney has been selected as the new Chief of the Rome Police Department to succeed Elaine Snow. Downer-McKinney, a thirty year veteran of the department, currently serves as Major of the Support Services Bureau. Downer-McKinney was selected from a field of twenty-five internal and external candidates who presented before an interview panel consisting of Human Resources Director Rita Odom, City Attorney Andy Davis and City Manager Sammy Rich.
Downer-McKinney began her career with the Rome Police Department in 1985 as a patrol officer and has advanced through the ranks having served as a supervisor since 1994 and reaching the rank of Major in 2010. Downer-McKinney holds a number of impressive credentials, including a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati as well as a Master’s Degree of Public Administration from Columbus State University. Additionally, Downer-McKinney is a graduate of Leadership Rome, Command College, and the FBI National Academy.
“She certainly has an impressive educational background as well as practical hands on experience that will continue the positive momentum in our police department,” said Rich. He added that Downer-McKinney is well respected amongst her peers and the community and has worked in all facets of the Rome Police Department during her career. Rich will present Downer-McKinney to the Rome City Commission for affirmation of his appointment at the March 14, 2016 Commission Meeting.
The Rome Police Department is an Internationally Accredited Agency through CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.) For more information regarding the Police Chief, please contact Rita Odom at 706-236-4430 or [email protected]. For additional information visit www.romefloyd.com
