Chris Adams, a veteran of more than 25 years with the Garner Police Department, has been appointed as the department’s new chief of police. He has been serving as interim chief since the retirement of former Chief Lorie Smith in April. Adams will be formally sworn in during a ceremony scheduled for later this month, as Garner NC’s official announcement detailed.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Chris Adams has held multiple roles within the Garner Police Department since July 2024, including deputy chief, support services captain, patrol lieutenant, and several sergeant positions. Town Manager Jodi Miller noted confidence in his qualifications to lead the department. Adams was selected following a comprehensive hiring process conducted with POLIHIRE, an executive leadership recruitment firm, where he was chosen from a diverse group of 66 applicants.
According to the official announcement, Adams holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Liberty University and is preparing to begin his tenure as police chief. “I am excited to officially get started as the police chief in this wonderful community,” Adams shared. He brings a leadership style influenced by his time in the Marine Corps, emphasizing values of honor and commitment and an ethos of being “always faithful” to a higher cause…