City’s first female police lieutenant to leave agency

The first woman lieutenant at the Kettering Police Department is retiring to take a job as assistant chief of the Westerville Police Department near Columbus, according to a news release from the agency.

Lt. Holly Murchland joined the agency in March 1993, Joe Ferrell, public information officer, said in the release.

“Murchland has served the city of Kettering with honor and distinction for more than 25 years,” Ferrell said.

During her career in Kettering, Murchland as a patrol officer served as a hostage negotiator, field training officer, detective and evidence technician. As a supervisor, Murchland managed several different patrol shifts, the communications section and most recently the criminal investigations section, Ferrell said.

The Westerville Police Department in suburban Columbus suffered a tragedy when two officers were shot and killed Feb. 10 while responding to a 911 hang-up call.

Officer Eric Joering, 39, was killed when he was shot three times and Officer Anthony Morelli, 54, died after being shot in the chest.

Records showed police had previously been at the residence for domestic violence calls.

The public is invited to a farewell ceremony at 3 p.m. today for Murchland in the Virginia Room of the north building at the Kettering Police station, 3600 Shroyer Road. Contact this reporter at 937225-0586 or email Wayne. Baker@coxinc.com.