UPDATE: Katherine Warden named chief of Marietta Police Department

MARIETTA, Ohio. (WTAP) - After the completion of an assessment to determine the new Marietta Police Chief, the Marietta Civil Service Commission announced Katherine Warden as Marietta’s police chief on June 1, 2022. She received the highest score on the test with a 96.05.

Warden is the first female chief of police in Marietta’s history, according to Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher. She was also the first female sergeant in Marietta before her promotion to chief. Warden has been with the Marietta Police Department for 20 years.

Former interim chief Aaron Nedeff placed second with a score of 90.33.

Nedeff took over the position after former chief Rodney Hupp retired on July 16, 2021.

Hupp retired in wake of an investigation against him for allegedly creating a hostile work environment.

Warden filed a complaint on March 23, 2021, alleging gender discrimination within the Marietta Police Department and that former Chief of Police Rodney Hupp had “subjected her to an ongoing sexualized ‘locker room’ type atmosphere.”

Original Story: May 17, 2022

After the retirement of former chief Rodney Hupp and the term of Aaron Nedeff Marietta will soon find it’s new police chief.

The assessment for the new police chief will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

After the assessment is complete a decision is expected to be made around the first week of June.

“That will be through board members at the chief of police association so it takes it out of our hands completely,” said Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher.

The civil service commission will be head of the testing but the decision will be determined solely off of the assessment scoring by each candidate.

Mayor Schlicher describes the importance of the police chief being integrated within the community and well liked by his co-workers and why he believes these candidates fit that criteria.

“Not only just the longevity of being here but those personal communication skills. You have to have somebody that not only can give commands to subordinates in the department but also can go out into the public and be an effective speaker,” Schlicher said.

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