After 25 years of serving the Town of Chapel Hill, Police Chief Chris Blue announced he is retiring in December.

Blue said in a statement from the Town of Chapel Hill that announcing his retirement is bittersweet.

“It has truly been an honor to serve as a police officer in my hometown for all these years and I still love every minute of it,” said the police chief. “But, it is time for me to try other things and make space for the next leader of this outstanding organization. They will be taking over the most progressive and innovative law enforcement agency in this state and I’m excited to see what’s next for the incredible team at CHPD.”

Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. (Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.)

Blue was appointed as Chief of Police in December 2010. He was previously sworn in as a patrol officer in November 1997.

During Blue’s tenure as police chief he led investigations into the shooting of three Muslim college students at Finley Forest Condominiums and the murder of Faith Hedgepeth where her suspected killer was arrested in September 2021.

Additionally, Blue led town staff in preparations for three UNC men’s basketball Final Four appearances and annual Halloween celebrations. He also expanded the Police Crisis Unit.

“I want to thank Chief Blue for his many years of dedicated service to the Town,” said Town Manager Maurice Jones in a release from the Town of Chapel Hill. “He and his staff have collaborated with the community, the town council and personnel from throughout our organization to make Chapel Hill a safe and welcoming community. His commitment to our town will be sorely missed.”

The Town of Chapel Hill said in a release they are developing a process to fill the position with opportunities for public input.

“That process will be announced soon, with the goal of having the new chief hired prior to Chief Blue’s retirement,” the town release said.

 

Featured Photo via Town of Chapel Hill

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Police: Missing Teen Safely Located
UPDATE: Chapel Hill Police shared an alert Sunday morning that Kaydin Shelton has been safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing teenager. Police say 15-year-old Kaydin Shelton of Chapel Hill was last seen just before midnight Saturday night in the area of Legion Road and Ephesus […]
Chapel Hill Police: Pedestrian Dies After Being Hit Along Fordham Boulevard
Chapel Hill police officers responded at 7:41 p.m. to a report of a pedestrian hit by a driver in the 1800 block of Fordham Boulevard.
Our Town: The Story of the Summer Youth Employment Program
This month, Zequel Hall, who leads the Town's Summer Youth Employment Program is joined by three of the Town of Chapel Hill's young employees, Carlos, Eman, Irene, and Malachi, to tell the story of the Summer Youth Employment Program.
Chapel Hill Police Safely Locate 42-Year Old Woman Reported as Missing
UPDATE: The Chapel Hill Police Department said Monday morning that Kimberly Austin has been safely located.
Lee County Man Charged With Impersonating Chapel Hill Police Officer
A Lee County bail bondsman was arrested and charged last week with three counts of impersonating a law enforcement officer. The North Carolina Department of Insurance said Sanford resident Deshawn Dante Townes, 32, identified himself as a Chapel Hill Police officer during a visit to the Orange County Housing Authority on January 29 while trying […]
Chapel Hill Police Safely Locate 14-Year-Old Reported Missing
UPDATE: Chapel Hill Police shared at 5:44 p.m. on Tuesday that Logan Pollard was safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking for public assistance in locating a missing teenager. 14-year-old Logan Pollard was last seen Monday evening in the 5600 block of Old Chapel Hill Road. Police describe Pollard as five-foot-nine and weighing […]
Chapel Hill Police: Crash on Estes Drive Injures Teen Cyclist
The Chapel Hill Police Department is investigating a collision between a driver and teenaged bicyclist on Friday that left the bicyclist injured. An alert issued by police said officers responded to a report of a crash in the 300 block of North Estes Drive in Chapel Hill at 3:45 p.m. Officers say 61-year-old resident Karla […]
Chapel Hill Police Charge Moore County Man with Manslaughter
The Chapel Hill Police Department has charged a Moore County man in the death of 55-year-old Michael Jesse Griffin. Griffin, a Chapel Hill resident, died on September 13 after an assault. Cody Ray Callahan, 19, of Carthage, is charged with voluntary manslaughter, simple assault and false imprisonment. According to police, Callahan assaulted Griffin at around […]
Police: Chapel Hill Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested in Guilford County
UPDATE: Chapel Hill Police issued an alert saying Johnathan Lemount Florence was taken in custody in Guilford County on Thursday, August 29. He faces charges of felony robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony larceny stemming from the bank robbery and is set to appear in Orange County court on the charges at 2 p.m. on October […]
North Carolina’s Iconic College Town Struggles to Redevelop a Toxic Coal Ash Mound
As the Town of Chapel Hill prepares to redevelop land less than two miles from the University of North Carolina campus, some say a draft cleanup plan fails to adequately protect the public from arsenic, cobalt and other toxic metals that were detected in the greenway in 2013. 
›