New Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) 2023

Justice Department announces new Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)

The Justice Department (COPS Office) named Colonel Hugh T. Clements Jr. as the new director of the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued a statement commending Chief Hugh Clements for his illustrious 40-year career. Clements began his career as a night Patrol Officer in the Uniform Division of the Providence Police Department in Rhode Island.

He has held various positions throughout his career, including those in the Special Investigations Bureau and the Detective Bureau, where he actively participated in several significant investigations.

He later held the positions of Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of Police until being named the 37th Chief of the Department and elevated to the rank of Colonel on January 6, 2012.

Additionally, Clements has forged close ties with effective police enforcement, civil rights, and neighborhood groups.

He is honored for his great police work and dedication to duty with multiple awards, including the White House Champions of Change Award for Reducing Drug Use and Creating a Healthier America and the Providence Police Department Chief’s Award, which he received three times.

He also holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and administration of justice from Roger Williams University and the University of Rhode Island, as well as a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University.

More than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies have received funding totaling more than $20 billion from the COPS Office to help them hire and redeploy more than 136,000 officers.

Take away

Colonel Hugh T. Clements Jr.’s selection as the COPS Office’s new director is a key step toward fostering community policing methods across the nation and enhancing public confidence between the general public and law enforcement. Clements has a track record of success in leadership roles and devotion to public safety.

Read more Political News on WeeklyReviewer!