Chris Blue won’t have very long to enjoy his retirement from the Chapel Hill Police Department at the end of the year — as he’ll step into the interim town manager role for Chapel Hill.
The town council voted in a special meeting Wednesday afternoon to appoint Blue to the position, which was needed after the current town manager Maurice Jones shared his plans to resign at the end of December.
Blue, who has worked for the police department for 25 years, will delay his retirement from the local government until a permanent successor is found. He previously announced in June he would be stepping down from Chief of Police, which he was appointed to in 2010. Blue will begin in the role on January 1, 2023.
“It has been an honor to serve the community in which I grew up, received my education, and have spent my entire professional career,” he said in a release. “I am humbled to be asked to step into this critical role and I look forward to supporting the remarkable work of our Town of Chapel Hill staff.”
Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue (right) stands with Town Manager Maurice Jones (middle) and former UNC-Chapel Hill Police Chief David Perry on Franklin Street for Halloween 2019. (Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.)
Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger told 97.9 The Hill that she believes Blue is “totally dedicated to the Chapel Hill values,” which will help him make the transition to a new role.
“We wanted somebody who was familiar with our community,” said the mayor. “We are just very grateful that Chief Blue is willing to step in and help us out here.”
Jones shared he was stepping away from the Chapel Hill Town Manager position on Tuesday after four years with the town. He described the decision as coming after an assessment of his priorities and said he believes the local government took “important steps forward” during his tenure. The Chapel Hill Town Council released a statement shortly after, saying Jones is leaving the town “on solid footing.”
Hemminger echoed those sentiments, saying Jones’ announcement was not a surprise and there had been a “working conversation” to establish a plan for his resignation.
But, the mayor said, it led the town council and staff back to Blue — who was willing to remain with the town as it also searches for a permanent planning director and parks and recreation director.
“Chris was also in charge of parking services, building and development services, town inspections,” Hemminger added about his qualifications. “He’s versed in many areas and he’ll get up to speed, but he also has great staff to help him get up to speed to be part of the management system and keep everything moving in the right direction.”
Hemminger said the town will begin its planning for a nationwide search of permanent town manager candidates in the new year. The mayor described the process as likely taking “six to eight months.”
Blue’s replacement at the Chapel Hill Police Department was named just less than one month ago. Celisa Lehew, the current assistant chief of police who has served with the department since 2004, will become the town’s first female police chief on January 1.
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