Lovetta Quinn-Henry to become chief upon McKinley retirement
By Teresa Sargeant
Reporter
The Apopka City Council voted unanimously to appoint Lovetta Quinn-Henry as the city’s new deputy police chief, with the expectation that she will succeed retiring Chief Michael McKinley later this year.
Quinn-Henry, whose expected start date is May 1, will earn an initial base salary of $178,000 per year.
Quinn-Henry has served 25 years with the Orlando Police Department and is its current deputy police chief.
As team commander for the critical incident stress management team, Quinn-Henry helmed leadership during noted crises such as citywide protests and the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
Among her achievements in education, Quinn-Henry holds a bachelor’s in criminal justice, a master’s degree in public administration and a doctor of philosophy degree.
“If approved [as deputy chief], I will have the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Quinn-Henry over the next several months as she transitions into her new role,” McKinley said at the meeting. “This period will allow her to familiarize herself with the agency, its operations and dedicated personnel within the Apopka Police Department due to the necessary transition process from the Orlando Police Department.”
Quinn-Henry succeeds Jerome Miller as deputy police chief. He stepped down last December to serve as deputy chief of the Orange City Police Department. In total, Miller was with the Apopka Police Department for over 28 years.
Quinn-Henry is a current Apopka resident and Apopka High School alumnus whose granddaughter now attends the high school. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to stand before the City Council and to McKinley for presenting her history.
“I’m a grandmother whose granddaughter attends Apopka High School, so I’m super proud to say that this comes full circle,” Quinn-Henry said. “I’ve given 25 years of my life to the Orlando Police Department. It has been an amazing experience, and so I’m excited to be able to come to Apopka, my home, to serve as the next deputy chief and ultimately the chief of police.”
Council members and several residents expressed their support and confidence in Quinn-Henry’s leadership.
At the meeting, Quinn-Henry’s husband John Henry said that for the last 20 years of their lives together, he had seen her work 12-hour on-duty shifts in addition to taking care of their home, their children and him.
“Apopka, she is the real deal. Now, why do I say that? Because I know who she is,” he said. “I’m just so happy for her, and I’ve seen a lot of things take place over the years with this young lady here, but I will say this right here: This is that happiest time from the moment that we said ‘I do’ to our last kid. She is so happy to be in Apopka. And I’m just so happy to see you here, honey.”
The Apopka Chief is an award-winning weekly newspaper serving the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923.
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