BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " TERRELL BOLTON " IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO BE NAMED CHIEF OF POLICE IN DALLAS : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK HEROES "

 BLACK  SOCIAL                 HISTORY                                                             Dallas names first black police chief

DALLAS {AP} City officials bypassed a national search Friday in selecting assistant chief Terrell Bolton, 40, as Dallas' first black police chief.

On Sept. 30, Bolton will replace Ben Click, who announced two weeks ago he is retiring after more than six years as the city's top law enforcement officer.

Click appeared at a news conference Friday and endorsed the selection.

He called the move important in terms of finally having a black man run the city's police department, but said Bolton also was the most qualified of the candidates.

"I don't see Chief Bolton as an African American. I see him as an extremely talented individual," Click said.

Bolton told a room full of reporters that being named the first black chief feels "very good."

He added, "I don't get a lot of joy that it's taken so long."

City Manager Ted Benavides' announcement ended speculation about whether city officials would go through a national search.

"He works well with all the

Associated Press

SUBHEAD:Dallas Assistant Police Chief Terrell Bolton, right, shares a laugh with Chief Ben Click at a news conference announcing Bolton's selection as the new police chief in Dallas.

segments of the Dallas community, and that's the kind of hallmark that Chief Click has left us," the city manager said.

Bolton called the opportunity to serve an awesome respon-

sibility, and promised to enhance crime-fighting efforts, department diversity and internal police communications.

"We will strive to make sure that from this day forward, that

we will be known as an open department," Bolton said.

Bolton, who joined the force in 1980, now commands half the department's six patrol divisions.