Montgomery Real-Time News
Former Atlanta Deputy Chief Ernest Finley to be named Montgomery police chief Wednesday
Updated: Mar. 07, 2019, 2:04 p.m. | Published: Dec. 16, 2014, 4:04 p.m.
By Erin Edgemon | eedgemon@al.com
Samuel Lee Reid, Ernest Finley
Samuel Lee Reid, executive director of the Atlanta Citizens Review Board, left, talks with Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Ernest Finley during a community town hall forum at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church where The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, in Atlanta. Dozens of people met at the church to discuss recent cases of unarmed black men being fatally shot by police and ways to improve the way officers interact with the public. Neighbors met Monday evening to propose solutions to police brutality and other issues. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
(David Goldman)
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange is expected to introduce Ernest Finley, former deputy chief of the Atlanta Police Department, as the city's new police chief on Wednesday.
Strange will make the announcement at a press conference slated for 4 p.m. at Montgomery City Hall.
While Strange has yet to release the name of the new chief, the Atlanta Police Department confirmed that Finley is retiring in order to take the Montgomery police chief position.
Finley served 28 years with the Atlanta Police Department after four years with the U.S. Army.
According to Atlanta PD, Finley most recently served as commander over the community services division. He was appointed to the rank of deputy chief in January 2010 and was assigned as the field operations division commander.
Finley earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University.
Kevin Murphy, above, was named the new MPD Police Chief today.
Finley replaces Kevin Murphy who was forced to retire from the post after three years over claims he created a hostile work environment.
Earlier this month, Montgomery County Sheriff-elect Derrick Cunningham hired Murphy as his chief deputy. Murphy will handle day-to-day operations and oversee the county jail.
Cunningham and Murphy will start their new jobs in mid-January.