Reform-Minded Fairfax Police Chief Officially Sworn In

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Kevin Davis was officially sworn in Monday as the new chief of the Fairfax County Police Department by Clerk of the Court John T. Frey. Davis was surrounded by his family, senior staff, and members of the Board of Supervisors, according to a post on the police department's official Twitter account.

It's been a busy few weeks for the new chief, since the Board of Supervisors announced his appointment on April 23. A string of media reports revealed that he had lost two civil lawsuits early in his career as a member of the Prince Georges County Police Department in Maryland. The first case involved use-of-force during an arrest and the other concerned false imprisonment of a man in custody.

The lawsuits cast a shadow over his selection to be the county's next top cop, with the president of the Fairfax County NAACP saying her organization had no faith in Davis' hiring and calling on the county to launch of a new, more transparent process for hiring the next chief.

Throughout all of this, the Board of Supervisors has continued to support Davis and promoted him as their choice to lead and reform FCPD. Chairman Jeff McKay and Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, chairman of the board's Public Safety Committee, hosted a public listening session Thursday night. During the session, Davis responded to questions from citizens about the lawsuits and his ability to run the department.

"I've certainly changed and grown and learned many lessons throughout the course of my career," he said. "Every year along my journey I've learned more, I've become more attuned to community expectations and sensitivities, and from that I've become one of the most progressive reform leaders in our country. And I'm proud of that journey."

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This morning, Chief Davis was surrounded by family, senior staff, and members of the Board of Supervisors for his ceremonial swearing-in as Chief of Police. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/J8mrKhn2Qs
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 10, 2021