City of Mullins has a new chief of police.
After returning from a closed-door session, City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Kenneth W. Davis to the position. With more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, Davis most recently served as a special investigator for the 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office and before that as a Captain with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
According to his resume, Davis was also a special agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency.
City Administrator Pete Rogers said the choice came down to two candidates with similar philosophies. “He lives in Mullins, he’s familiar with the area and the department,” Rogers said.
The other candidate for the job was Harold Lee Reaves of Columbia. Reaves is currently the Director of Homeland Security for the City of Columbia.
Police Chief Russell Bass resigned in February because of health reasons and Chief Detective Capt. Michael Bethea served as interim chief. According to the city’s personnel department, Bass was hired as chief in June 2003.
“This has been something I strived for all of my career; to be able to enter into a position where I live amongst officers I’ve worked with in the past and folks that I have standing relationships with is wonderful,” Davis said, adding that he was one of the founding members of the Marion County Combined Drug Unit.
Focusing on the challenges ahead, Chief Davis said he’s excited and feels his officers are up for the job.
Council conducted a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the appointment and a lease agreement with Florence-Darlington Technical College.

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