Two current assistant chiefs vying to be top cop at Fayetteville Police Department
Two current assistant chiefs with the Fayetteville Police Department are in the running to become the city’s next police chief, city manager Doug Hewett announced Friday.
Kemberle “Kim” Braden, the commander of the department’s Field Operations Bureau, and James Nolette, the commander of the department’s Specialized Services Bureau, are the finalists in the search to replace Chief Gina Hawkins who announced in July she is retiring in January, Hewett said at a news conference.
The city manager said he was happy that both candidates are from Fayetteville.
“You’re likely very familiar already with both of these individuals, and I am proud that following a rigorous process from a pool of highly qualified candidates around the country, both of our finalists are from here in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and have illustrated their investment in this community,” Hewett said.
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Braden and Nolette briefly introduced themselves.
“I’ve served the Fayetteville community for the past 27 years, and I’m originally from Fayetteville, as my father was a retired Special Forces soldier out of Fort Bragg,” Braden said.
Nolette, who hails from Providence, Rhode Island, said he is a third-generation police officer who served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division for six years and has worked for the Fayetteville Police Department for about 25 years. He shares an 11-year-old son with his wife of 15 years, Robyn, he said.
“I’ve made this my home,” Nolette said. “I didn’t want to go back to Rhode Island and shovel snow anymore, so this is where I stayed.”
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The two will participate in a public forum Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers, Hewett said. Members of the public can submit anonymous questions in real-time through a QR code or can submit their questions before the event through a link on the city of Fayetteville’s website, he said.
“We know based on community input and feedback that our next chief should be fully invested in our community and uniquely prepared to build upon the foundation that is currently in place,” Hewett said.
A slate of 10 candidates was originally presented to Hewett by recruiters from Developmental Associates, the Chapel Hill-based firm hired by the city to help with the search process, he said. Hewett would not say how many candidates made it to last week’s semifinalist stage, in which candidates participated in an assessment that included simulated news conferences and written exercises. Some of the candidates were police chiefs from other agencies across the country, he said.
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“I’m hoping, as always, to find someone who is willing to invest even further in our community, and it is very gratifying to have two of those people who are already on staff here,” Hewett said.
Many community members and Fayetteville police officers told Hewett they hoped for a candidate from the Fayetteville Police Department, he said. Hewett said he and members of the City Manager's Office will conduct “detailed” interviews with the candidates before the final selection is made.
Hewett said he plans to announce the new police chief before Christmas.
“Given both of the candidates are currently assistant chiefs, I think the transition will be a lot smoother,” he said.
Public safety reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville assistant police chiefs in running for police chief spot
