![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/03\/09\/PEVC\/0bd256c1-4854-46ab-a2da-af3dd090dbcc-february22_1.JPG?crop=5086,2861,x0,y255&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHENDERSON, Ky.\u00a0\u2014 Henderson’s Board of Commissioners named Sean McKinney the new chief for the Henderson Police Department on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
McKinney was named acting chief<\/a> March 1, taking over from Heath Cox, who retired<\/a>. McKinney had been deputy chief since July 2019. On Tuesday, the board held an executive session directly following its regular meeting and opted to remove McKinney’s interim tag.<\/p>\n “I think he is the perfect hire for police chief and I’m happy we are moving forward with this resolution,” Commissioner Brad Staton said.<\/p>\n The board’s vote was unanimous among the board members, minus Robert Pruitt, who was absent.\u00a0<\/p>\n McKinney started his career with the department in 1997, after graduating from Murray State with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. In 2001, he joined the Kentucky State Police, where he served for more than 17 years and was promoted to the rank of Captain. He served as\u00a0commander of the\u00a0Drug Enforcement Special Investigations unit, overseeing operations and criminal cases in\u00a063 counties in Western Kentucky.<\/p>\n More:<\/strong>Henderson, Kentucky Police Department names longtime lawman as interim chief<\/a><\/p>\n In other news, the commissioners voted to help fund a feasibility study on a new aquatic center in its regular meeting Tuesday.<\/p>\n A local group represented by Meredith Schmitt requested the city contribute $15,000 to the study, which will cost a total of $30,000. The study is needed, Schmitt said, to determine if an aquatic center can be self-sustaining rather than a “money pit” that the city would have to maintain and staff. The Henderson Tourist Commission is in charge of carrying out the study and Schmitt’s group is seeking nonprofit\u00a0status.<\/p>\n\n The board voted to pass the measure, with the one holdout being Mayor Steve Austin. Austin said he had reservations about the piece of land the group had identified as a possible home to a center, and also preferred that a new center be integrated with existing assets such as the YMCA pool facilities.<\/p>\n![\"Sean](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/03\/09\/PHGL\/8d08c14f-1b7c-4669-a7d9-f7e689b29462-275548892_265875442387789_4767540925485508543_n.jpg?width=300&height=400&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")