Roanoke Rapids Police Chief C. Shane Guyant has announced he will retire effective December 1.
“Chief Guyant dedicated his professional career to law enforcement for over 30 years and has provided invaluable leadership to the Roanoke Rapids Police Department since July 2023,” City Manager Kelly Traynham said.
Guyant informed both the city manager and his staff what Traynham described as his difficult decision to retire citing deeply personal needs.
“In January 1993, I decided to become a law enforcement officer. Since that time, I have done some incredible and amazing things,” he said in his retirement letter. “During these three decades, I have given my time, days, nights, weekends, holidays, and days off to serving total strangers. I have been a servant so long that I have forgotten what it was to not serve. During this time, I have neglected some people. My family.”
At 53, and noticing so much of what he missed “while I spent my adult life giving to others, I forgot to give to those that truly mattered. In the past year, I have watched my father’s health deteriorate. He is no longer the Superman I used to know. I watch my mother try to maintain a household by herself, and she looks and is exhausted.
“Being an only child and having parents living hours away has taken a toll on me emotionally and physically. I worry about them constantly and as much as I try to physically be with them I just cannot. I am blessed because I have a wife that helps. Together we worry about tomorrow for them.”
The police chief said he has struggled with this decision. “The struggle primarily centered around leaving the men and women of this department that I have grown to love. The advice that I was given boiled down to this. Do I want to look back on my life and regret a decision?
Prayer and guidance have led me to the decision that the obvious choice must be not living with regret. A recent sickness in my immediate family has made me think even further about what is the most important thing in my life. It has to be my family.”
He said a few weeks ago he notified the city manager he would be retiring. “I left our meeting crying like a baby. I cried because I really hate leaving the men and women that I work with. They are the absolute best human beings that I have ever been around. I have had my private moment with them and what I said to them is between us.”
He said, however, “I can say that I will miss them most. I also know that I have to do what I have to do for my family.”
He said, “My decision should be private and personal. Let me be clear, my decision to retire has nothing to do with anything that is going on with the city of Roanoke Rapids. My decision is based only on my intent to serve my family.”
During his time at the department, he said, “We have accomplished more than anyone could have imagined. We, not me, have done this. The accolades and accomplishments are too many to name in this letter. As I was reminded by a citizen lately, just go look on Facebook and you will see for yourself what we have done. This staff of amazing and dedicated professionals has brought pride and respect back to this agency. My mission was to bring credibility and pride back to this department. I feel like this was accomplished, and it was done so because of these 40 men and women that call themselves Roanoke Rapids police officers and staff. This city is very fortunate to have these incredible men and women protecting and serving them. I could not be prouder of them.”
While retiring December 1, Guyant said, “I will give this city 100 percent of my effort every day until that time. Exciting things are on the horizon for this department. I can’t wait to see them continue to be successful.”
Quoting Jim C. Collins from his book Good to Great, Guaynt said, “Good is the enemy of great. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is so easy to settle for a good life. I have lived a great life and have accomplished so much. I accomplished this because my team, my family, was standing there sacrificing with me. It is now my time to repay them with my presence. I hope that if you read this you will evaluate your own life and decide what is important.
“I hope you make your own internal decision and will consider how fragile our lives are. Only God knows when the hourglass sand will run out. Do not waste your lives watching that sand disappear. Love those that love you and give yourselves to them. At the end of the day that is all that should truly matter. Choose to be great.”
The city will soon begin its search for its next chief of the police department, Traynham said. “Chief Guyant remains committed to the city of Roanoke Rapids and the Roanoke Rapids Police Department until his retirement on December 1, 2024.”
