SALISBURY — The search for a new police chief is over, as city officials announced the latest person to put on Salisbury’s lead law enforcement mantle.

Captain Patrick “P.J.” Smith said that he is ready to lead the department he has been a part of for so long.

Smith rose through the ranks at the SPD. In 2009, he was promoted to criminal investigation detective. Five years later, he was elevated to patrol sergeant and then was promoted to lieutenant over the special investigations division in 2018.

Most recently, he held the position of captain over the investigations bureau. There, Smith supervised the services bureau comprised of seven units: general investigations, violent crimes investigations, vice/narcotics, neighborhood crime abatement team, the crime lab, organizational development and hiring. Those units are responsible for specialized investigations that go beyond the routine response of daily operations of the department and require that its personnel have specialized training. In addition to hiring, organizational development is responsible for leading the department’s internal practices and employee career enhancements.

Smith has led various crime reduction strategies throughout his tenure, including increasing community engagement relationships and implementing the Chief Jerry Stokes Crime Information Center. He also managed crime analytics and records division staff.

His time in Salisbury predates his time at the SPD. He’s lived here nearly his entire life.

“For almost 50 years, I have been a part of this community,” Smith said. “I grew up in Salisbury. I used to ride my bike through town and collect Coke bottles to turn them in for 10 cents a pop.”

While Smith has served with the SPD for 18 years, he worked at the Food Lion corporate office before that.

“Not only do I understand the community, I understand the culture and what the department needs are,” Smith said. “The time was now. The time was right.”

Smith expressed a desire to build upon the foundation his former boss, Jerry Stokes, erected.

“He brought 21st-century policing to our agency,” Smith said. “I want to expand upon that 21st-century policing and take that firm foundation that has already been created and grow with it.”

Smith added that his first order of business would be to listen to the community partners that make Salisbury the city it is.

On Thursday, Salisbury City Manager Jim Greene said that Smith was selected following a nationwide search that saw 26 applicants throw their names into the hat. The decision was made after numerous meetings with community organizations and stakeholders that were “utilized to develop the qualifications and priorities that (were) stated in (the) recruitment brochure” for the position.

Through the rounds of interviews and questioning, Greene said that Smith rose to the top as the “clear choice.”

“The selection process was thorough and involved members of the community,” Greene said. “We met and interviewed many strong candidates with various backgrounds but ultimately, Captain Smith stood out above the rest. For over 18 years, he has shown his dedication and commitment to Salisbury and our police department. He has built trusting, open relationships as an effective leader. Throughout the selection process, Captain Smith demonstrated his knowledge and qualifications for leading and managing police services. He has a vision to help address and prevent crime, in addition to a desire to increase engagement with community members, businesses, nonprofits and state and local law enforcement partners. I know Captain Smith will make an excellent chief for our city.”

Smith will be formally sworn in at the Salisbury City Council meeting on July 18.