Edward A. Hutto, 37, who is chief of the six-man Rasom, West Virginia, Police Department, was hired last night to serve as the new police chief for the Borough of Lehighton.

The new local chief has 15 years of police experience and twice was the recipient of special awards for arrests made while off duty.

He has been the chief in Ransom since 1983 and previously served for 10 years in the 140-member Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department in Maryland, where he rose to the rank of sergeant as a deputy sheriff.

Hutto has been named “Citizen of the Year” and an “Outstanding Young Man of America” by the Prince George’s County Jaycees as well as twice being named a Fraternal Order of Police “Outstanding Member of the Year.”

He and his wife, Carmela, have two young children, Ashlie, 3, and Shaun, 5.