KANNAPOLIS — Deputy Chief of Police Daniel M. Wallace received his boss’ highest accolade at the city council meeting Monday night after his retirement after 24 years was announced.

Wallace was presented with the Chief’s Award, along with his service weapon and badge, by Chief Terry Spry.

The presentation came with emotional thanks from Spry, who said he and Wallace have grown up together, been classmates, workmates and friends. Wallace’s departure, Spry said, is “bittersweet.”

“Daniel has made tremendous contributions to our city and the police department during his tenure,”Spry added. “He is the example of what sets us apart from other police departments. He is a dear friend who I will miss, and I thank him for his efforts and commitment to our department.”

Wallace joined the Kannapolis Police Department in 2000 after marrying his wife, Emily, who is from Kannapolis. During his career he has served as a patrol officer, DARE and school resource officer and sergeant of the Community Services Unit. He was designated as a master police officer in 2009, and during his tenure he has worked, supervised or commanded every component within the department. Additionally, he served many years as a member of the department’s Special Response Team and Honor Guard Unit. He was promoted to sergeant in 2010, lieutenant in 2014, captain in 2019 and to his current position, deputy chief of police, in 2020.

He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and has completed 4,082 hours of professional training. He is a 1993 graduate of R-S Central High School. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country until being honorably discharged in 1999.

Over the years, he has received many commendations including Safe Driving Awards (5-year, 10-year, 15-year and 20-year); a commendation for planning highly detailed training scenarios; and a Life Saving Award for rendering aid during an overdose situation. He has also received the department’s highest honor, the Roger Dale Carter Memorial Service Award and Cabarrus County’s highest honor the Robert Jackson Eury Memorial Award.

In presenting Wallace with the Chief’s Award, Spry said, “Daniel is always willing to help others and is gracious with his time and money, which exemplifies his commitment to the success of our community. Anyone who knows him, knows he loves kids and celebrates their success, whether it’s in the classroom, the athletic field or in a career as an adult.

So it’s entirely fitting that Wallace plans to spend his retirement in the classroom. He is joining the staff of A.L. Brown where he will teach criminal justice classes and serve as a football coach.

“I hope that people will remember my time here as a police officer for the relationships I have built in the community. I have felt like policing is my calling and my calling was to develop relationships with everyone in every neighborhood throughout the city. These relationships made my job as a police officer easier over the years,” Wallace said. Wallace is known for the time he has spent building relationships with children. Quietly and with no fanfare on numerous occasions he and his family would take in children who had no place to go, purchase their clothing, help them with schoolwork, provide them with career and college mentoring and more. He has also donated Christmas gifts for families and more in Kannapolis.

“My family and I have always tried to find the need and fill the need. My mother was a single mom raising five boys, so I have been in many of the situations these kids have been in. I have wanted to be a positive role model for them no matter who they are,” he said. This same attitude was carried over at work where he has endeavored to be a positive influence with new police officers. “We are all human and we are all going to make mistakes, in school, at work or at home. My goal has been to help everyone by looking at these situations and saying how can we help; how can we make a difference or right the wrong by setting up our children in the community and our police officers for success.”

Wallace is a native of Rutherfordton and law enforcement is the family business — his father and brother were also in law enforcement.