Instead of doing research intended to reinforce your own condescending, arrogant opinion of the man, you might have simply read his resume instead.
http://www.co.mo.md.us/services/police/chiefbio.htm
I hardly think that somebody who has worked his way up through the ranks for EIGHTEEN years, could be considered ANY kind of affirmative action appointee.
Although, if you are just blindly AGAINST somebody, I could see how you would think that it is a huge jump to Police Chief, from the position of Deputy Chief, City of Portland, Operations Branch. Again, this is after EIGHTEEN YEARS in the same force.
I have always respected people who rose through the ranks but I also understand why people are brought in from the outside sometimes, too. In his case, since he was a Patrol Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain, North Precinct, he is WELL-QUALIFIED. In addition to having held the aforementioned positions, he also was a Major in the Oregon Air National Guard, and an Adjunct Faculty member of Criminal Justice at Portland State University.
If that kind of sterling, on-the-job experience isn't good enough for YOU, then he also has a little bit of outside education, to help him in conducting investigations, too. He attended the FBI National Academy, 154th Session (1988), and also FBI National Executive Institute, 17th Session (1994).
While he was working his way through the ranks, it probably dawned on him that it would help him to get a more advanced degree. While YOU scoff at his DOCTORATE level degree (since YOU think PSU sucks), he also received a Bachelor's in U.S. history from UNC way back in 1975. As far as I know, Carolina didn't give out degrees for ineptitude way back in 1975.
If you will actually read his resume, then you will see that he has a long list of accomplishments and rewards that are too numerous to mention. Again, I say that he appears to have a long history of working to improve himself over time, and he comes from humble beginnings near here, in Lexington NC. He is a self-made man if I have ever seen one.
He is WORTHY of our respect, and he has EARNED my respect. You are free to continue thinking badly of him, if you wish.