Salisbury, N.C. (Tuesday, June 7, 2016) – The City of Salisbury has named Lynchburg (Virginia) Police Department Deputy Chief Jerome “Jerry” Stokes as its next police chief.

Stokes has an extensive background in law enforcement dating back to 1984 when he joined the Lynchburg Police Department as a police recruit. Over his 32- year career in Lynchburg, he has held varied positions within the department such as regional violent crime task force detective, street crimes suppression team leader, vice and narcotics investigations officer, K-9 enforcement team supervisor, internal affairs manager and critical incident/ tactical response manager. Currently, Chief Stokes is responsible for the department’s police investigative and administrative functions, citywide emergency management operations and directly oversees 50 sworn officers, and 12 civilian staff.

“I am thrilled that we are able to bring on someone of Chief Stokes’ caliber to head our police department,” said City Manager W. Lane Bailey. “Chief Stokes has a strong background in developing key strategies for combating crime and solid experience in community policing– two key attributes that the city needs and I desired in a new chief. I am more than confident that Chief Stokes will lead this police force in the right direction, making our community a safer place to live and work.”

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to lend my law enforcement expertise to the City of Salisbury as its next police chief,” said Chief Stokes. “While I recognize the challenges that may appear before us, I am fully committed to being a member of the Salisbury community. I am confident in the leadership Captain Stallings has provided to the department during the interim period. I look forward to working with all residents to build sound relationships with our officers and, in turn, combat crime. I am excited about what this new opportunity will bring and look forward to meeting and working with all the officers and staff of the Salisbury Police Department. I’m ready to join the team and get started.”

“The City of Lynchburg’s loss of Deputy Chief Stokes is definitely Salisbury’s gain,” said Pastor James Camm, of Living Word Ministries in Lynchburg, Va. “It is well know in our community that Chief Stokes has a heart to protect and serve. He has shown himself to be an exemplary public servant and will be a great asset to the City of Salisbury.”

Listed as Chief Stokes’ previous achievements include successfully reorganizing the patrol division to enhance beat officer concept and improve community-policing efforts; implementing a program of street-level crime suppression to reduce neighborhood drug and violent crime; and creating a differential call response policy to enhance patrol officer response times to emergency or other call types to effectively manage patrol officer time.

Stokes has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., and a graduate certificate in local government management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va.

Stokes is expected to begin his tenure with the City of Salisbury on Monday, July 18.