Bennett

ELKINS – Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett has resigned from his position, officials announced.

Elkins City Council voted during its Thursday evening meeting to accept Bennett’s resignation, and to post the Elkins Police Chief position.

The seven present council members voted. Second Ward Council member Lisa Severino, Fourth Ward Council member Andrew Carroll and Fifth Ward Council member Cody Thompson were absent from the meeting.

Bennett was not present for the Thursday night meeting.

“Travis Bennett was more than a police chief; he was a mentor to our officers and a tireless advocate for their well-being and professional growth,” Mayor Jerry Marco said in a City of Elkins press statement. “Chief Bennett leaves this department stronger than he found it; not just in numbers, but in his character and capabilities. We are incredibly thankful for his years of tireless service and the solid foundation he has built for our city’s future.”

The matter was listed on the City Council’s July 9 agenda as “Personnel – Police.” The topic of discussion was proposed by Marco and the City of Elkins Human Resources representative Sarah Campbell. The Council went into executive session for 31 minutes to discuss the matter and returned with no action taken. First Ward Council member Robert Chenoweth then moved that the City “post a job description, approved by HR, for a new Chief of Police.”

Before the Council voted in favor of opening the position, Marco stated that, while the City usually brings the matter up with the Personnel and Finance Committees first, the urgency of needing the position filled led everyone to agree that bringing the matter directly to Council was “the right thing to do.”

In a comment to The Inter-Mountain after the meeting’s conclusion, Marco said Bennett will still be “in the books” until Aug. 1, but would be on leave between now and then.

“It was (Bennett’s) choice,” Marco told The Inter-Mountain. “He had positive things to say about his experience with the City, and I’m thankful for what he did for us and how he raised the bar.”

Bennett has served as the Elkins Police Chief for more than six years, having been sworn in by former Mayor Van Broughton in September 2019. Bennett had been an officer with the department for four years prior to becoming chief.

The Elkins City Council will meet again at 7 p.m. on July 23 in the Phil Gainer Community Center.