Kevin Collins was sworn in as chief of the Covington Police Department on Monday, taking command of the city’s force after a leadership change at the top. He replaces Chief Michael Ferrell, who stepped down at the end of June after 34 years in law enforcement, a long run that city officials acknowledged as he passed the baton. The swearing-in drew city officials, school leaders and neighboring police agencies to the ceremony.
Ceremony Draws Regional Law Enforcement Crowd
Local agencies and civic groups turned out to see Collins take the oath. According to the Covington Police Department's Facebook post, attendees included the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office, the St. Tammany Parish School System and the Slidell Police Department, while the In Jesus' Name Foundation provided refreshments. The department noted that the city congratulated Collins and said it is proud to have him leading the force.
Council Backs Collins After Ferrell’s Retirement
Collins’ promotion followed a unanimous City Council confirmation after Chief Ferrell announced his retirement effective June 30. The council's special meeting summary on Citizen Portal records a roll-call vote to confirm Deputy Chief Collins as the next chief as Ferrell prepared to depart after more than three decades in the field.
Deep Training And Investigations Resume
Collins arrives with a sizeable background in investigations and training. According to Mayor Mark Johnson’s newsletter, Collins is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Session 289) and was promoted within the department to deputy chief. The department's Facebook post adds that he holds a master's in public safety from the University of Virginia and a BS in kinesiology from Southeastern Louisiana University. He joined Covington as a patrol officer in 2013 and has served as detective, sergeant and lieutenant in the Criminal Investigations Division before taking on internal affairs and training leadership roles.
Focus On Continuity, Transparency And Community
As deputy chief, Collins helped lead multi-parish investigations and was a frequent department spokesperson on child-exploitation and online predator cases, WDSU reported. City leaders at the ceremony said Collins will emphasize continuity and transparency and will rely on his training and Criminal Investigations Division experience to guide the department through ongoing investigations and community policing efforts.
