Tuesday, November 14, 2006

ORANGE: Police Lts. Kevin Sooy, Aric Webster and Hakim Sims have been promoted to captain, and Mayor Mims Hackett Jr. has assumed the role of acting police director for the next three months, Hackett said yesterday.

Sooy, Webster and Sims were the top three scorers, of five eligible candidates, on the state Department of Personnel list of superior officer candidates who were eligible for promotion.

Webster had been serving as the department's civilian director since Sept. 6. Prior to that, the 35-year-old officer had been acting police director. He began that role July 14, when Edward Lucas, 62, retired.

Now that Webster has been promoted to captain, however, state regulations say he must stay in his new uniformed position for 90 days before going back to civilian police director status, Hackett explained.

As a result, Hackett said he will fill the role of acting civilian police director through Feb. 3.

Sooy joined the police force Jan. 19, 1990, as did Sims. Webster joined the department Aug. 5, 1992.