Salisbury Police names Greensboro Captain Shon Barnes Deputy Chief

The City of Salisbury has named Greensboro Police Captain Shon Fitzgerald Barnes as its deputy police chief. Barnes has an extensive background in law enforcement, with a career spanning nearly two decades serving the City of Greensboro Police Department.

During his tenure in Greensboro, Barnes held multiple positions such as a juvenile victim’s detective, sergeant of the commercial crimes squad, specialized subject control and arrest techniques instructor, and the commanding officer of three different divisions. He continued on to become a law enforcement analyst for 97.1 WQMG and adjunct faculty for Guilford Technical Community College, Winston Salem State University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T). Currently, Capt. Barnes is the commanding officer of the Greensboro Police Department’s Training Division where he oversees the training and education for the 678-person police force. In addition, he is responsible for the management, supervision, and technical police work as assigned by the Chief of Police.  

As Salisbury’s deputy police chief, Barnes will direct the department’s community oriented policing initiative and neighborhood problem solving. His first day with the department is Monday, May 15.

“Major Barnes has strong talents and experience in community building through citizen engagement opportunities, crime analytics, and community oriented policing – three areas in which our department actively seeks to improve,” said Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes. “Major Barnes will be a valuable member of the team as we continue to address staffing challenges and increase training for our officers. We are fortunate that a leader of his caliber has agreed to join our department.”

Barnes’ previous achievements include bringing awareness to infant abusive head trauma (formally known as shaken baby syndrome), and statewide and departmental policy changes regarding patrol officer protocols for unresponsive infant calls for service. In his position as the sergeant of the commercial crimes squad, Barnes created the department’s first organized metal theft task force in which law enforcement officers partnered with community members, local political leaders and business stakeholders to reduce metal theft. He has been recognized by the City of Greensboro with its North Carolina Service Award, the United States Selective Marines Corps Reserve Medal First Award, and Police Officer of the Year by the Randleman Road Business Association in 2014.

Barnes holds a bachelor’s degree in history and pre-law from Elizabeth City State University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, and is currently a PhD candidate in leadership studies/community and civic engagement program at N.C. A&T.

His salary will be $94,000 per year.