Charleston Police Chief Scott Dempsey will retire Oct. 22, less than three years after taking the department's top job following the resignation of his predecessor amid allegations of misconduct.

Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin announced Friday, Oct. 9, that Deputy Chief Jason Webb will succeed Dempsey. Webb, who has served with the Charleston Police Department for more than 19 years, will be sworn in that day.

The transition places the department under the leadership of an officer Dempsey selected as his deputy when he became police chief in February 2024.

Webb's appointment also marks a change from the process that led to Dempsey's selection. In 2024, Goodwin considered 27 applicants for police chief, including candidates from outside the department. This time, the mayor announced her choice of Webb without describing a new search or selection process.

In a news release announcing the appointment, Goodwin said she had considered the department's long-term leadership when selecting Dempsey.

"When we were going through the process of selecting our current Police Chief, I wasn't just thinking about who would lead the department then. I was also thinking about its future," Goodwin said. "Over the years, I've seen firsthand Webb's character, his commitment to the department and his ability to lead."

Dempsey became police chief on Feb. 16, 2024, after serving as interim chief since August 2023. He took over temporarily following the resignation of former Chief Tyke Hunt amid allegations of misconduct.

Goodwin's search for Hunt's replacement attracted 27 applicants — eight from within the department and 19 from outside. The mayor interviewed 10 candidates, according to a MetroNews report.

During those interviews, Goodwin asked candidates whom they believed should lead the department if they were not selected. Nearly all named Dempsey, she said.

Dempsey, then a 23-year department veteran, was sworn in during a ceremony at City Hall. He selected Webb, who previously held command positions with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the Charleston Police Department's SWAT team, as his deputy chief.

Webb told MetroNews following the appointments that Dempsey's confidence in him helped solidify his decision to pursue a leadership position rather than consider retirement.

Recruitment and officer training were among Dempsey's early priorities. Shortly after his appointment, he said the department had about 161 officers, 12 fewer than its authorized staffing level of 173.

In Friday's announcement, Goodwin credited Dempsey with increasing recruitment, overseeing what she described as record-low crime numbers and helping guide the department's transition toward a new Public Safety Center.

The city did not provide crime statistics or staffing figures in the announcement to substantiate those claims or measure changes during Dempsey's tenure.

Webb has held several positions during his nearly two decades with the department, including patrol officer, detective in the Criminal Investigation Division, patrol district supervisor and Public Services Division commander.

He has also served on the department's SWAT team since 2009 and as a SWAT sniper since 2014, according to the city. His other assignments include firearms instructor and field training officer.

Webb was among the law enforcement officers recognized by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia in 2023 for work on two drug trafficking cases.

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve as the next Chief of the Charleston Police Department," Webb said in the city's announcement. "We have some of the most qualified and best-trained officers in West Virginia, and I look forward to building on the department's success as we move forward."

Webb also thanked Dempsey for his leadership and mentorship.

Dempsey previously served as deputy chief from 2020 to 2023 and held positions in the department's warrants, information services and criminal investigation divisions. He graduated from West Virginia State University with a bachelor's degree emphasizing criminal justice.

In a statement, Dempsey expressed confidence in his successor.

"The Charleston Police Department will always be home to me," he said. "I am excited about the future of the department under Deputy Chief Webb's leadership."

Deputy Chief Kevin Oldham will remain in his current position, according to the city.

The announcement did not specify why Dempsey is retiring or identify any immediate policy changes Webb intends to make after assuming command.