Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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6 UCW JANUARY 4 - 10, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MICHAEL FUTCH, CityView Today. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200. Kemberle Braden will be the next police chief for the city of Fayetteville. Braden, an assistant chief who has been with the department for 27 years, will replace Police Chief Gina Hawkins, who announced in July that she is retiring in January. "I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve the Fayetteville commu- nity, which I have called home for the past 45 years," Braden said during a Dec. 28 news con- ference. "I want to thank City Manager Doug Hewett for his confidence in my ability to lead and giving me this opportunity. "I look forward to bringing what I've learned throughout my career to lead the Fayetteville Police Department as many others have done before me," Braden said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'm ready for this responsi- bility." Hewett made the announcement during a news conference at City Hall. As the city man- ager, Hewett is responsible for the hire. He was flanked by Braden and Hawkins during the news conference. Assistant Chief James Nolette, who was the other finalist for the position, was in attendance during the an- nouncement. "We are just a few days away from celebrat- ing the new year," Hewett said. "And now we can celebrate the selection of new leadership for our Fayetteville Police Department. "... In particular, I'd like to say to the staff of the Fayetteville Police Department, 'ank you.' roughout this entire process you have been in my thoughts, and I'm very pleased to be able to make this selection and appoint- ment today." e appointment follows what Hewett called "an intense search process." e final selection came down between the 49-year-old Braden and Nolette, the depart- ment's 47-year-old commander of the Special- ized Services Bureau. Braden has served as the Field Operations commander for the Police Department. In that role, he supervises patrol operations and investigations. He started his law enforce- ment career as a patrol officer assigned to the Murchison Road area. Braden is married and has two grown children. "We are truly fortunate to have identified exceptionally qualified candidates through the search," the city manager said, "and making an internal hire exemplifies how well we cultivate and nurture talent from within." Braden said he looked for- ward to working with Nolette and others in the community in the coming year. "ere's a lot of work ahead of us as we prepare to close out 2022 with the New Year's Eve Spectacular this Saturday," Braden said of the second an- nual event set for Festival Park. Hewett said the Fayetteville Police Department employs 605 members on a budget of more than $59 million. "We'll start conversations and develop strategic plans that align our departmental strengths with the needs of our community," Braden said. "ere will be many conversa- tions concerning recruitment, retention and strategies to address violent crime." Braden then thanked Hawkins for her lead- ership and service to the community for the last five years. "For me personally," he said, "she has pro- vided opportunities that have allowed me to grow as an officer and an individual. And pre- pare me for my time to lead. I'd like to thank her and wish her well in her retirement." Hawkins then made a brief statement, ini- tially congratulating her successor. She said the community should be proud. "Chief Braden, you should be proud. Chief Braden's family, you should be proud," she added. "You have someone who has come from the city and is about to lead this de- partment and this community into the next chapter. And I'm very proud. We will continue to transition for the next month as I continue my retirement. We are one city that's going to move forward with the next chief." Following the news conference, Hawkins called Braden "a good officer. He has experi- ence, and he has the heart of the city embed- ded in him. He's humble; he's sincere," she replied when asked if he was a good hire. "e department is going to be in good hands," she said. "I pray the community sup- ports him and the department as they have supported me." Braden named new Fayetteville Police Chief by MICHAEL FUTCH, CityView Today Kemberle Braden will take over as the next Fayetteville Police Chief. (Photo courtesy city of Fayetteville) NEWS Christian music station local your