SALISBURY, N.C. — Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes will retire at the end of the year, following nearly four decades in law enforcement. The Virginia native handled several initiatives that have contributed to the city’s 20-year low in violent crime in 2019 and 2020.

In Stokes’s office is a bookcase filled with memorabilia of his time protecting and serving his communities.

Stokes began his law enforcement career in his hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia, as a patrol officer. Stokes says he looks forward to closing out this chapter of his life, even though he entered an unplanned career path.

“I wanted to work for the telephone company or something like that when I was, before I got the law enforcement bug,” Stokes said.

Stokes came to Salisbury in 2016, transforming a department he says direly needed a leader who would help bring officers to their greatest potential.

“There have been folks that were pigeon-holed and kind of left in spots and were not given the opportunity to develop or succeed,” Stokes said.

While contributing to much success over the years, the willingness of Stokes to connect and work alongside the NAACP stuck out most to Gemale Black. Black was born and raised in Salisbury and says before Stokes joined the Salisbury Police Department, the relationship between the Black community in Salisbury and law enforcement needed work.

“Terrible relationship. It’s that simple. There was no relationship with the NAACP, the police department. We would try to schedule meetings. We just couldn’t get nowhere,” Black said.

Black says the leadership of Stokes is what changed that relationship.

“His leadership is really laid-back but really hungry and ready to get to work, ready to meet new people, do new things. You know, outside-the-box type of thinking,” Black said.

The two have worked together on different initiatives, including the Police Chief’s Advisory Board, which brought community issues straight to the officers, and the Cease Fire Initaitive, which aimed to reduce increasing gun violence in the community.

Stokes says as he looks to retire at the end of 2022, he’s hopeful of one thing.

“You know, the names will change and positions might change and things like that, but I hope and I feel like the organization has seen some change that will stick and stay in place no matter what name is there,” said Stokes.

City Manager Jim Greene recently announced Deputy Chief Brian Stallings will step in as interim police chief effective January 1.

Stokes says his plans are to return to Virginia with his family to begin retirement.