MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Chief of Police Maury Richards has announced he will resign on May 31.
Since taking the reigns of the Martinsburg Police Department in October of 2015, Richards helped create the Martinsburg Drug Ordinance, Handle with Care and The Martinsburg Initiative.
“The trust and confidence you demonstrated in selecting me and providing the opportunity to lead this magnificent organization has been the honor of a lifetime. Together, we have built the best police department in the State of West Virginia,” Richards said in a letter to Mayor George Karos, City Manager Mark Baldwin and Martinsburg City Council.
Richards confirmed in his letter that he will reside in Martinsburg and spend more time with his grandchildren. He plans on writing on police-related issues, and continuing to be a “vocal advocate for men and women of American law enforcement.”
Before coming to Martinsburg, Richards served with the Chicago Police Department for 24 years as a Lieutenant.