After a four month search the town of Belhaven in Beaufort County has a new police chief.

Mayor Adam O'Neal introduced the new police chief, Frederick Clingenpeel, at the regular council meeting Monday night.

This new hire comes after O'Neal suddenly fired chief George Hayden and Lt. Josh Hopkins back in March. Since then, the town has been turned upside down. The former officers are appealing their dismissal and even taking their case to court.

Oneal and Clingenpeel hope to put the past police problems behind them and focus on the job at hand. Clingenpeel says, "I want to focus on improving our relationships in the community and engage the community with positive growth." O'Neal says, "The council had the courage to do what needed to be done and put us on a new path as far as community policing goes."

Clingenpeel will be sworn in as soon as the Department of Justice finalizes his certification. Before moving to Belhaven, Clingenpeel was with the New Hanover county sheriffs office for 15 years.