Richard Dotson, former Louisville police chief, dies

The murder rate nearly doubled after Dotson under Hamilton and then went down under Sherrard and Smith. Hamilton lacked experience. He was too young and inexperienced to be a good chief at the time. His ability to f--k up the department was only contained by his not being able to demote the more experienced Captains on a whim like the chief can demote Majors. Those Captains kept the wheels from falling off the car like they've fallen off today under the green political Majors.

Sherrard probably would have been a good chief but didn't last long enough to really prove it. His giving out medals to people in a controversial shooting may have seemed brave to some, but it forced him out before he could really do anything.

Dotson was the best because he took a department that was rife with organized crime corruption and made it a professional department, at least for a few years. Crime dropped to its lowest in city history. Louisville was one of the safest cities in America in 1989. Actions and results speak much louder than the empty words of those holding office since then.

Hamilton actually cared about his officers. He was truly genuine in his demeanor.