Strength through community: Shoemaker new EPD chief

Details: Lance Martin; News; 17 April 2025; 3386

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The top officers in the Enfield Police Department began their new duties Wednesday after being administered their oaths of office.

Jerry Shoemaker, who wants to offer strength through community, was sworn in as the town’s new chief and M.C. Fields, who pledged to serve in a greater capacity, was sworn in as captain.

Family, friends, town officials, and officers from neighboring departments met at town hall to welcome and celebrate with them.

Introduction of the chief

“Today we gather not just to witness a ceremony or tradition, but to recognize a significant commitment to leadership, service and integrity,” said retired officer Emerson Carroll, who served with Shoemaker in the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and served as master of ceremonies for the event. “Being sworn in as police chief is just not about accepting a title. It’s about stepping into a role that carries great responsibility, trust and honor.”

The Enfield community, Carroll said, “Looks to its law enforcement leader not only for safety and security, but for guidance, fairness, and strength in times of uncertainty.”

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Shoemaker, he said, brings the nine principles of law enforcement established by Sir Robert Peel to life.

“Jerry, your experience, character, and dedication brought you to this moment as you take this oath. You do so with the full support of your wife, Debbie, your family, your department, your colleagues in this community.”

Shoemaker earned an associate degree in criminal justice at Nash Community College, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at North Carolina Wesleyan University, and a master's degree in criminal justice with a focus on administration at North Carolina Wesleyan University. “In addition to being a successful husband, father, lawman, and lifelong student, one of Shoemaker's proud accomplishments was co-authoring a significant book of these times. Carolina Academic Press published in April 2021 a book called Policing in a Diverse Society, Another American Dilemma,” Carroll said.

Shoemaker joined the Enfield Police Department under former Chief Tyree Davis. “Jerry rose to the rank of corporal earning recognition not only for his law enforcement skills, but also his unique ability to connect with the community,” Carroll said.

Known affectionately as Shoe, Carroll said, “Jerry became a beloved figure. Using his time and money, he handed out snow cones, and he held pancake dinners. He had Slim Jims in his car he would just give to people at random and talk to them.”

He had a trailer he used to make funnel cakes and snow cones. “He would just connect with the community. He kept toys in the trunk of his car to comfort kids involved in domestic violence and crashes.”

Said Carroll: “To the people he served, his reputation is that he is fair.”

While stepping away to join the sheriff’s office and then to work in the private sector, Shoemaker came back to Enfield as a captain in April of 2023 — the sole officer.

He is known for coming up with a recruiting poster that told about the benefits of Enfield, what the department could offer as well as free popcorn. The unorthodox recruiting method worked and by December he had 10 positions filled — some full time, some part time.

Comments from Fields and others

Before taking his oath, Fields’ wife told the audience that her husband “is relentless in the pursuit of justice, leaving no detail overlooked and ensuring accountability is served.”

“I’d just like to say thank you to you all for being here, especially to the people I personally invited because you’re so important to me,” he said. “I’m just eager for this opportunity. I’m ready to serve in a greater capacity. I was honored for the opportunity to be selected.”

Via video, Davis, Halifax County sheriff, offered his congratulations to Shoemaker and Fields. “I want you guys to take this agency and make it your own.”

Enfield town Commissioner Bud Whitaker, who serves as police commissioner, said of Shoemaker, “I can’t count the countless times he has given free breakfasts. The thing about him is he connected with the community. If you’re an officer and you don’t connect with the community, crime is going off.”

On Fields, he said, the new captain has ambition beyond his current position. “I love this. He said, ‘I just don’t want to be the captain. I would love to be the chief.’ He wanted to move up and I’m just honored to have them. I think God put y’all in the right place at the right time.”

Shoemaker’s wife said, “He has always loved Enfield … He will do what he can to serve, to be a blessing, to try and change things, and change the issues that may arise.”

Comments from the chief

Shoemaker said Wednesday was more than just a promotion ceremony. “It’s a kick-off. We’re going to begin something … I’m excited about this new direction that it’s in my heart to take the Enfield Police Department and how we’re going to connect with the community.”

Shoemaker and his wife have actually been in the Enfield community since 2004 where he eventually served as pastor of Emmanuel Christian Center when its pastor died.

He served in that capacity until he got back into law enforcement around 2016-17. “That’s how I came to fall in love with this community.”

Now, he said, he is looking forward to connecting with Whitaker and the rest of the town board so they can take Enfield in a different direction. “The goal of the Enfield Police Department is to work with all members of the community to provide the highest possible level of service to the citizens … in a nondiscriminatory manner, maintain peace, order, security and crime control.”

The vision statement includes reducing the opportunity for crime, reducing the fear of crime and providing “a sense of security for all people of Enfield by protecting life and property, ensuring every member of the Enfield Police Department preserves the peace and constitutional rights of all citizens” and “diligently addressing the root cause of crime through efficient, effective, and thorough police service, community engagement and creative problem solving.”

Said Shoemaker: “Every member of the Enfield Police Department is challenged daily to be innovative in developing new ways to deliver free services. We aspire to improve the quality of life through education, transparency and partnership with the community — strength through community.”