Captain Sekou Kinebrew left the 14th District this week for a bigger job with the Philadelphia Police Department. (Photo by Sue Ann Rybak)

by Sue Ann Rybak

Captain Sekou Kinebrew, of the 14th Police District, began his new position as commanding officer of public affairs and social media and public information officer of the Philadelphia Police Department on March 7.

In an interview earlier in the week with the Chestnut Hill Local, the 21-year veteran of the Police Department said, “I cherish my experiences in the 14th District and the relationships that I've made both with my external stakeholders and my internal partners as well. I am excited for the new challenge and I look forward to that as well.”

Kinnebrew said the most challenging part of being captain of the 14th District was “balancing the unique demands of the most diverse and dynamic district in the city.”

He said Captain John Hearn, who recently served on the Highway Patrol Unit, a special unit of the Police Department that coordinates safety for major city events, would be his successor. Hearn previously worked as a sergeant and a lieutenant in the 14th District.

When the Local asked what advice he would give the new captain, Kinebrew said he “would advise the new captain to maintain and build upon the relationships that exist between the 14th District and the community we serve.”

As the captain of the 14th District, Kinebrew said he was “constantly proud of the way” his officers displayed “compassion, courtesy, and sincerity when interacting with the public, even in these most challenging of times.”

Sue Ann Rybak can be reached at sueann@chestnuthilllocal.com or 215-248-8804