By Chris Paul
President Joe Biden announced recently his latest nominee for U.S. Marshal and it includes someone with longstanding Londonderry ties.
The nomination of retiring Londonderry Police Chief, William Ryan Hart, was one of twelve that have been named and is the most recent candidate chosen by Biden for a post as a U.S. Marshal. Hart will serve as the District of New Hampshire marshal if accepted.
Hart has served as Londonderry’s Chief of Police for since 2009 and was previously a Captain, serving under Chief Joe Ryan from 2000 to 2009.
Hart also served as Rockingham County, New Hampshire Attorney from 1995 to 1999.
He has also served as a prosecutor for several towns in New Hampshire and received his B.A. from Merrimack College in 1981 and his J.D. (Juris Doctorate) from Boston College Law School in 1986. Hart is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
This is the fourth round of U.S. Marshal nominees and according to the White House press release, these individuals were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials in their fields, and their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all.
Other more recent nominations are: Brian A. Kyes, U.S. Nominee for the District of Massachusetts; Thomas E. Brown, Nominee for the Northern District of Georgia; and Stephen D. Lynn, nominee for the Middle District of Georgia; and Roy W. Minter, Jr., Southern District of Georgia.
The U.S. Marshals Service is the first federal law enforcement agency in the United States.
Federal marshals have served the country since 1789, often in unseen, critical ways.
The Marshals Service occupies a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. It is the enforcement arm of the federal courts, involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative.
U.S. Marshals are appointed by the President and there is one for each federal judicial district and direct the activities of 94 districts.
The duties of the U.S. Marshals Service include protecting the federal judiciary, apprehending federal fugitives, managing and selling seized assets acquired by criminals through illegal activities, housing and transporting federal prisoners and operating the Witness Security Program.
Judicial Security.
Biden has proposed a budget that would significantly increase funding for law enforcement as part of a comprehensive approach to tackling the rising crime rate this administration inherited last year.
The President has also launched an effort to take on the uptick in gun crime that has been taking place since 2020 putting more cops on the beat, supporting community prevention programs, and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking. Confirming U.S. Attorneys as the chief federal law enforcement officers in their district is important for these efforts.
Hart will be officially retiring from his post as Police Chief in Londonderry on Friday, Aug. 5 after his 22-years of service.
The town will be hosting a retirement sendoff ceremony at the Londonderry Police Department on Friday, Aug. 5 at 12 p.m. outside between LPD and Town Hall. Members of the community are welcome to attend. The ceremony will be held inside if weather doesn’t allow for an outside service.