NORFOLK, Va. — After a nearly year-long search, the City of Norfolk officially announced its next police chief, who is moving from just across the water in Hampton, Wednesday afternoon.
Norfolk City Manager Chip Filer introduced Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot in a briefing with the media at Norfolk City Hall.
"Chief Talbot is a well-respected, seasoned law enforcement professional with 35 years in the policing industry," Filer said in the briefing. "He's a planner, he's a strategist and I'm happy to say he's very cerebral and quite an intellectual."
Filer added that Talbot demonstrates all of the traits both he and the people who live in Norfolk are looking for.
"This is an honor and I couldn't be happier to be here," Talbot said. "It is a very surprising turn in my career, frankly. It is exciting and it's the right move for me at this point."
Chief Talbot said he didn't have the position on his radar.
Dr. Filer said Talbot helped Norfolk city leaders interview candidates and narrow them down to the final three, never applying himself. Filer said three weeks ago when those interviews wrapped, he didn’t feel like he had the right candidate in front of him.
"I called Chief Talbot and kind of told him where my head was, what I was thinking, and asked if he would be an applicant for the position," Dr. Filer said. "At which point he did put in his application and then went through the assessment process with Morris and McDaniel."
Chief Talbot expressed his love for the Hampton community.
“It has been the best time of my career," Chief Talbot said.
But, Talbot said he’s leaving city and police department better than he found it.
"I am walking away from an organization that reduced murders in 2022, at the end of our first full year with our policing strategy, by 30%. We reduced nonfatal shootings at the end of that period by 25%,” he said.
Dr. Filer said Chief Talbot checks all the boxes the community asked for.
"They wanted somebody who had experience as a chief, they wanted someone who had experience in an urban setting," Dr. Filer said. "They wanted someone very involved in community policing.”
Chief Talbot said he is ready to hit the ground running. He is expected to start on May 1.
"Assure you that I will not let you down," Chief Talbot said.
Talbot has been chief of police in Hampton since July 2021. He was making $180,000 in Hampton when he was first hired in 2021, according to public records.
Talbot's last day in Hampton isn't known yet.