Kennesaw named its new police chief this week — William E. Westenberger, who had been acting chief since February.

That's when then-Chief Tim Callahan resigned after crashing his city-issued cruiser. Callahan was named chief in December 2002. His resignation from the $81,452-a-year-job was effective April 1.

Westenberger said he hopes to strengthen relationships between the police department and Kennesaw's residents and business community.

"This is a great opportunity for me to serve the community," Westenberger said Tuesday.

He sees his role as chief "as a support function for the community and the staff of the police department. It's all about them [the police officers]. If they feel like they have a good place to work, then the city gets a better officer and a better response from the police department."

Westenberger's annual salary will be $79,851, said David Layman, a Kennesaw spokesman. Westenberger, who will lead a department with 56 sworn officers, has been with the Kennesaw Police Department since August 2004.

Westenberger, 40, started as a patrolman and moved up quickly, serving as the chief's aide and accreditation manager. Before he was appointed acting chief, Westenberger was the assistant police chief.

He teaches at Chattahoochee Technical College as an adjunct instructor in the Criminal Justice Program. Westenberger also spent 13 years with MARTA police department.

He graduated from South Cobb High School in 1986 and received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from West Georgia College (now the University of West Georgia) in 1991. He lives in Powder Springs with his wife, Bonnie. His sister is Sgt. Becky Westenberger, who is with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office.

Layman said the chief's job was posted internally. City policy does not require jobs to be posted externally if there are internal candidates who qualify for the job.

"In this case, the assistant chief, who was acting chief, met that requirement," Layman said.

Kennesaw City Manager L. Steve Kennedy made the hiring decision Monday. The Kennesaw City Council will ratify the appointment next week.