Weldon has named Jarrod “Jay” Edmonds as the town’s new police chief.

Town Administrator Montre Freeman said he will begin his job on November 1.

“Chief Edmonds believes in the importance of training and networking,” Freeman said. “This is evident in the numerous law enforcement and community associations that he has been involved with.”

Edmonds  began his career as a firefighter with the city of Rocky Mount. In September of 2001, he joined the Rocky Mount Police Department and attended the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy at Nash Community College in 2005.

During his time with the Rocky Mount Police Department, Edmonds served as a special operations investigator specializing in ABC Law and was promoted to the position of sergeant in 2016.  

As a sergeant, he supervised four divisions of the Rocky Mount Police Department serving as a patrol sergeant, major crimes investigations sergeant, gang unit sergeant, narcotics unit sergeant, and administrative division career development sergeant and in-service coordinator.

He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate issued by the state of North Carolina. Highlights of his training include: Crisis Negotiator, NC Specialized Law Enforcement Instructor, NC Background Investigator, NC Field Training Officer Instructor, NC State Law Enforcement Executive Program graduate, West Point Leadership Program graduate, FBI Law Enforcement Development Program, Executive Detail Protection, community oriented Policing Strategies training, and an instructor with the Fair and Impartial Policing Program led by Dr. Laurie Fridell. 

Over the span of his career, Edmonds has been the recipient of the Stoney Creek Volunteer of the Year Award, Crimestoppers Award, Rocky Mount Police Department Life Saving Award, Rocky Mount Police Department Community Service Award and numerous department citations.

He is currently involved with the Twin County Crimestoppers where he served as the law enforcement advisor, Edgecombe and Nash Coalition on Alcohol and Drugs, NC Narcotics Officer Association, NC Law Enforcement Accreditation Network, NC Internal Affairs Investigators Association and the NC Police Executives Association where he currently serves as treasurer and secretary.

In his spare time, Edmonds enjoys online gaming, fishing, spending time with his son Sean and their dogs Teddy and Lola, and being surrounded by family and close friends, Freeman said.