Hopkinsville Police Chief Jason Newby says he will hold a press conference Friday, September 18, at 9:30 a.m. to publicly address the questions and rumors swirling around who will lead the department after he steps down next month. The planned press conference will address questions about who will lead the department after he steps down next month.
Newby announced his resignation this week during a Facebook Live broadcast, confirming his final day in office will be October 11 as he pursues a new law enforcement career opportunity, according to Hoptown Chronicle. During that broadcast, Newby addressed local rumors by clarifying he was not forced out or fired. Deputy Police Chief Erik Pacheco also submitted his resignation the same day, setting his own final day as October 11 as well, according to Christian County Now — leaving both of the department's top executive positions vacant at the same time.
A Recommendation Meets Council Resistance
Before going public with his resignation, Newby met with Mayor Knight and directly recommended HPD Major Michael Atkins to serve as interim police chief, per Christian County Now's reporting. Atkins is a 17-year department veteran who has served in patrol, SWAT, narcotics, special operations, and public information roles, following 20 years of U.S. military service; he was promoted to captain in July 2024 before advancing to major.
Residents packed Hopkinsville City Council Chambers on Tuesday to advocate for Atkins, noting he would become the department's first Black police chief, according to WHOP Radio. Citizens voiced their support during public comments before the council entered executive session to discuss city personnel. The council ultimately adjourned that meeting without taking action to appoint or approve an interim chief, leaving the process in limbo even as members approved the city's 2026-27 property tax rates during the public portion of the same meeting, per the same account.
A Political Clock Complicates the Handoff
The timing adds pressure to an already unusual political moment for the city. Mayor Knight lost his Republican primary reelection bid in May and leaves office at the end of the year, meaning he can only select an interim chief via executive order subject to City Council approval — the mayor elected in November will make the permanent appointment in 2027, Hoptown Chronicle reports. Knight had previously appointed Newby to the top job in March 2023 from a pool of 29 candidates.
At Friday's press conference, Newby plans to address the interim-chief question. He also said he will take questions from both the media and the community, and acknowledged that some of what he plans to say “will not go over well with some city council members.” Newby said he has prioritized the department and community over the feelings of those he described as blocking their success, safety, and security.
A Department Newby Leaves Behind
Newby was sworn in as chief in April 2023, succeeding longtime chief Clayton Sumner, who retired after nearly nine years in the role and was later elected to Hopkinsville City Council, according to Hoptown Chronicle. Sumner now serves on the council while also leading the Christian County Public Schools police force.
During Newby's roughly three years as chief, the department reached full staffing in 2023 for the first time in 13 years with 77 sworn officers, and the city recorded zero homicides in 2025, according to WKDZ Radio. Newby, who previously served with the Kentucky State Police and Christian County Sheriff's Office, also oversaw the creation of an Internet Crimes Against Children Unit that brought 159 charges in its first year and expanded the department's use of automated Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras across the city — a network that has faced some public debate but has also generated key investigative leads in local cases, per the same station's reporting.
Whether Newby's Friday remarks move the council toward a decision remains to be seen. For now, the interim chief question sits unresolved, with the department's two top executive positions set to empty out in less than a month.
