Being a policeman is a hard job these days and being the chief of a police force is probably more difficult – but some people still want the job. One of those people, Curtis Cheeks III got the job he sought and on Monday, July 1, High Point City Manager Tasha Logan Ford announced that Cheeks had been appointed as the chief of police, effective immediately.
It’s common these days for local governments in the area to hold wide searches for positions and then hire internally. The City of High Point held a national search and considered more than 50 applicants, before selecting one of the city’s long-time officers.
Before being appointed to the top law enforcement job in High Point, Cheeks served as interim chief of police, assistant chief of the support services division, and commander of the investigations section.
He was also previously a lieutenant over the strategic intelligence unit, community engagement unit, and public information office – as well as a field training supervisor.
Logan Ford, as expected had some very positive things to say about Cheeks’ service to the city.
“Curtis has effectively and passionately answered the call to lead the police department through the last several months of transition,” the city manager said. “He has demonstrated the ability to lead our men and women of law enforcement for years to come.”
Cheeks, who’s originally from Winston-Salem, has one son with his wife Ashley.
He said that he’s very excited about the opportunity.
“I’m humbled to be appointed to continue to lead our department,” he said in a public statement. “My goal is to continue to maintain the high standard that is our department’s legacy and to embrace the challenges that lie ahead by making our community partnerships even stronger. I’ve grown up here and I understand our community.”
Cheeks earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke as well as a master’s degree from Florida Metropolitan University.
Cheeks also attended the 144th session of the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course, is an FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Trilogy recipient, and a National Institute of Justice Leads Scholar.
The new High Point police chief also has experience as a recruiting officer, field training officer and detective in vice and narcotics units. During his career, he’s served as a state-certified criminal justice instructor and in the department’s implementation and continued efforts of focused deterrence in the areas of open-air drug markets, domestic violence and violence related to gun crime.
Also, the moniker “Chief Cheeks” has a nice ring to it, given that there is both alliteration and rhyming going on – though that was likely not a factor in the decision-making process.
What’s really Troublesome is they go Nationwide spend how much money and end up picking one of their own. Why would you go elsewhere anyway and not pick one of your own. I hope he works out.
It’s all about optics. . .local boards and councils have a “thing” about recruiting nationwide as if they were in the top 10 municipal governments in the country, leave no stone unturned, etc. Am sure he passed the local political measurements of his community, but I truly hope he does well in his new role and does more to drastically reduce the crime in HP.
I agree. If assistant chiefs aren’t qualified to move into the chiefs position then they shouldn’t be assistant chiefs. Hello!
All cops are bad, so who cares?
So just make sure and not call 911 when you or yous get assaulted or robbed.
I think we need to concentrate more on suite crimes instead of street crimes. There is more money stole with a briefcase than there is with a gun. What about when a city fireman retires and then they start a business and then the city of they worked for is their customer. Why is this allowed and why is it not looked into? They seem to get all the city contracts, and when their buddies that work for that city retire, they go to work for them making good money. No doubt, this is all paid by the hard-working city taxpayers.
Is this payback for shoveling them all the contracts? Is this what they call Quid pro quo?
Skip Austin is against what they call good old boy politics, and I don’t blame him. I would hope he would look into this.
I’m not saying there was any wrongdoing, but I just think it should be looked into.
Thank you
DEI