Little Rock’s police chief is among five candidates named as finalists to lead the Charleston, S.C., Police Department, according to a news release from the city.
Kenton Buckner, who has led the Little Rock Police Department since 2014, came to Arkansas’ capital city from the Louisville Metro Police Department in Louisville, Ky.
His ranks there included sergeant, lieutenant, major and assistant chief.
Little Rock police spokesman Steve Moore acknowledged in a statement Friday that Buckner was a finalist but declined to provide further comment.
"To protect the integrity of the process, candidates have been asked not to make any public statements concerning their involvement," the statement reads in part.
Buckner has a master of science degree in safety, security and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University as well as a bachelor’s degree in police administration from the institution. He currently serves as a commissioner for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Last year, the chief was criticized by the Black Police Officers Association over his absence at certain anti-violence events. In 2015, he was issued a written reprimand after one of his city-issued firearms was stolen.
Candidate visits are set for Feb. 6-7, the news release states.
The other candidates are Joseph Clark, deputy police chief in Norfolk, Va.; Luther Reynold, assistant police chief in Montgomery County, Md.; Michael Sullivan, deputy police chief for the Louisville Metro Police Department; and Jerome Taylor, interim police chief in Charleston.
Read Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.