Graham city manager Megan Garner appears close to making a decision on selecting a new police chief.
Earlier this week, she sent an emailed missive to employees at the department.
The tone of the letter suggests, at least, that she is not planning on elevating someone from within the department, despite the urging to do so from three members of the city council.
At its May and July meetings, members of the council told Garner they wanted to put an emphasis on elevating an officer from within the department.
In May, councilman Bobby Chin started the open-ended discussion during the “council comments” at the end of the city council’s monthly meeting by saying it “sends a message” and undermines officer morale when none of “our internal candidates” is considered to be chief.
In fact, council member Bonnie Whitaker had earlier asked to be included on a committee reviewing the police chief candidates. Garner did not include members of the city council on her internal review committee.
Whitaker pressed during her May and July comments, in particular, that Garner not require a master’s degree as a prerequisite for appointment as police chief. “I’ve known people with a master’s degree,” she said, “who I wouldn’t want to walk my dog.”
Whitaker said she wants to see experience to count as most useful, and particularly experience within the Graham police department.
Mary “Kristy” Baker, who had led Graham’s police force since 2020, had originally anticipated a departure date of September 1 when she announced her retirement from the police department in March of this year. But later she advanced that date to August 1.
Garner then selected former assistant chief Chris Smith, who retired from Burlington in the spring of 2024, to assume command in the county seat on August 1 as a temporary successor to Baker.
Garner demurred in an interview with The Alamance News at the end of Tuesday night’s city council meeting, when asked whether a decision not to select an internal candidate had prompted her letter to the department, saying she would let her letter speak for itself.
It is reprinted in its entirety below. Garner furnished the letter in response to a public records request from the newspaper.
Garner also acknowledged to the newspaper that she is close to making a decision. She told the newspaper a decision could come as soon as next week.
She would not reveal how many finalists are in contention for the post, but did tell the newspaper that “nearly 40” applicants had applied for the post.
Other sources have told The Alamance News that there are two finalists still under consideration, both from law enforcement agencies within about 50 miles of Graham.
According to sources close to the process, both finalists are well known to other local police chiefs, who have worked with the applicants in the past.
Among her comments to police were the following: “. . .creating disruption, whether intentionally or unintentionally, does not in any way set up the department for success. You are members of a professional organization that carries a tremendous amount of responsibility. Gossiping, spreading misinformation, and speculating on the next chief and their characteristics, thoughts, and opinions does not comport with the expectations I have of the Graham Police Department.
“. . . With whoever the incoming Chief may be, I implore you to be open-minded and not rely on what you may have heard about them. Give them a clean slate just like I’ll be asking them to do for each of you. Come to your own fair conclusions based on your direct interaction. How each of us handles this and our communication regarding the matter says more about us than it does them. It is so important now and in the coming months that we work together as a team.”
The full text of Garner’s email is reprinted below:
Good afternoon,
Let me begin by saying I understand everything that comes along with the transition to a new Chief of Police. I appreciate that members of the department care so deeply, and I also realize change can cause apprehension. We have been extraordinarily fortunate to have such a steady and calming hand in Interim Chief Smith.
However, creating disruption, whether intentionally or unintentionally, does not in any way set up the department for success. You are members of a professional organization that carries a tremendous amount of responsibility. Gossiping, spreading misinformation, and speculating on the next chief and their characteristics, thoughts, and opinions does not comport with the expectations I have of the Graham Police Department.
I purposefully included members of the Department at each step in this process. Your feedback is as important to me now as it was in July when I first asked for it. I have listened to every comment you have provided. I continue to reference, even as recently as this week, your survey feedback and intentionally developed scenarios and questions to address your top concerns. Your success, both individually and as a department, is of the utmost importance to me. I truly want each and every one of you to be proud to work for GPD and enjoy coming to work, at least most days.
With whoever the incoming Chief may be, I implore you to be open-minded and not rely on what you may have heard about them. Give them a clean slate just like I’ll be asking them to do for each of you. Come to your own fair conclusions based on your direct interaction. How each of us handles this and our communication regarding the matter says more about us than it does them. It is so important now and in the coming months that we work together as a team.
While there may be questions I am not allowed to answer at this time, please feel free to reach out to me if you do have questions or would like to have general discussion.
Megan Garner
