Roanoke Rapids Police Department investigative Captain Harold Phillips has been named interim chief until a replacement for Shane Guyant is found, City Manager Kelly Traynham said in her report to council Tuesday.

“I’m honored that they have enough trust in me to do that,” Phillips said following the meeting. “We’re going to keep things going, we’re going to keep the momentum going. We’ve got a good department. Chief Guyant’s (shoes) are big shoes to fill there, but we’re going to do our job and do everything we can to protect the citizens and their property and keep the job going.”

Guyant said this morning, “I am sure City Manager Traynham toiled over the decision as to who would serve as interim chief of police … She couldn't have chosen a better person for this task.  Harold is a true leader and he has been a catalyst and a change agent for this department this past year and a half.”

He said Phillips “has completely turned around a decimated investigations division. He has worked to create a group that has legitimacy and talent. Because of Harold his bureau has regained public trust and has lauded itself as a premier component of professionalism.”

Phillips, the outgoing chief said, “Is dedicated to keeping the momentum all of us have created.  He recognizes the remaining challenges and understands that he can be the voice of reason for these young officers as they go through this transition.  Harold has been an influence on my leadership.  He, along with Captain Jeff Baggett and Captain Gorton Williams will make sure that the ship not only stays afloat, but that it continues full speed ahead.” 

He said he wishes the candidates that have applied luck in obtaining the position of Roanoke Rapids Police chief. “The person chosen will be joining an excellent team of department heads and they will have at their disposal a police department that is committed to strength and justice.”

He said, “Lastly, I am proud of City Manager Traynham's decision to tap Harold for the interim chief of police. She has been one of the best bosses ever.  I have learned so much from her and I know in my heart she recognizes what is truly best for the city of Roanoke Rapids.  I have all the faith in her leadership and in how she manages this city.”

Traynham said the city is moving forward in the process to name a new chief upon Guyant’s retirement on December 1. “Five candidates will move forward to the final assessment centers by the first week in December. By the middle of December we should have a candidate identified as our next police chief.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Emery Doughtie, recognizing that Tuesday was Guyant’s last meeting as chief, told the outgoing police administrator, “I just wanted to thank you. Speaking for the police department and other people that are involved in the city, I think you have brought a lot to our community in the short time that you’ve been here.”

Doughtie said the chief represented stability, integrity, and honesty as well as being strong-willed. “I think you are very future-oriented about some of the programs that you have tried to put in here in Roanoke Rapids.”

One of the things that impressed the mayor about Guyant was that he always professed to be a Christian. “I think that means a lot to a lot of people.”

Doughtie commended Guyant for being a good firearms instructor. “He took me out to the range. Every time I’ve been out there before I came back with a bloody thumb from my new pistol I had bought.”

Under the chief’s supervision the mayor said, “I was able to shoot two or three rounds with my pistol and I still had all my skin on my hand.”

In closing, the mayor said, “I want to wish you luck in the future. Thank you for serving.”

Guyant thanked Traynham for hiring him. “I’ve really become close to our department heads. Council, thank you for having faith in me. I love my team. I’m going to miss them a lot.”

During his tenure in the city Guyant said, “I always did things the right way. It might not have been what everybody wanted to happen but it was the right way and I can stand here and hold my head up high and tell you my whole career I did things the right way.”

He said, emphasizing the word we, “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished at the police department. It wasn’t me. It was a concerted team effort. I thank you for your patience with us, thank you for supporting us. Please continue to support us and support what the police department does in this city. We have some outstanding men and women who work in that office and I am so proud to know everyone of them. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I did the right thing through prayer. I feel like I’m doing the right thing for my family.”

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New hires

Earlier in the meeting Guyant introduced new hires Cody Cooke and Jakota Snider.

“I really do like the fact we hire people who are from here,” he said. “These two gentlemen both went to high school here, they grew up here and they are a part of Roanoke Rapids. It’s nice to have young men and young women grow up in this area and decide to enter noble professions such as law enforcement.”

Cooke recently completed basic law enforcement training and is in his 12-week field training officer program.

Snider came to the police department after a hiatus when he worked at the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office. “He left there and decided he wanted to pursue a career here at the police department. We love having him here. I’m so glad to have these two gentlemen on our team.”