In an odd coincidence, the police chief in Rocky Mountain on Monday announced his retirement – the same day the Asheville Police Department chief announced he was stepping down.
Rock Mount Chief John Manley got his job when Bill Hogan left the job to become head of the Asheville Police Department. From the Rocky Mount Telegram:
Manley, 51, started out working for the Enfield Police Department and joined Rocky Mount as a patrol officer in 1984. He moved up through the ranks skipping the level of lieutenant before being named police chief in December 2004.
“Former Police Chief Joe Brown was one of my mentors, and he told me one day I would be police chief,” Manley said. “His leadership had a large impact on what I’ve tried to accomplish as chief.”
He said Brown taught him many skills he has applied to managing personnel.
“Joe always said if you remove obstacles from people, they will excel. He said if you expose people to various things, they will achieve,” Manley recalled Monday. “I’ve tried to do both of those over the years, and it has served the department well.”
Manley was the first black man to hold the position of Rocky Mount police chief, beating out more than 100 applicants from around the country. His predecessor, Bill Hogan, held the position for five years before taking the police chief position in Asheville.
The big difference is that Hogan leaves under a cloud, while Manley does not.
One other note: Charles Penny, the Rock Mount city manager, is a former Asheville government official.