The Roanoke Rapids Police Department has moved Officer Jay Conrad to the vacant PACE officer position, according to Chief Shane Guyant.

PACE — Proactive Community Engagement Enforcement — is a program designed to interact with the community and requires proactive enforcement in high crime areas.

Conrad, who has been with the department for a little over a year, “showed a lot of interest in community engagement,” Guyant said.

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His duties will also include working as a partner with both the patrol and the investigations bureaus to identify and eliminate crime, the chief said.  

“This is a fully grant-funded position that has been a critical part of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department for several years,” said Guyant. “Originally created by Chief Chuck Hasty, the PACE position was envisioned as an officer who could serve as the main conduit between the police department and the community.”

The position transitioned to more of a crime-specific related position rather than a community engagement position, and lately, due to the manpower shortage experienced by the department the position had shifted more in purpose.  

Guyant decided to return this position to the purpose it was originally intended. “We are committed to service and the PACE officer is a critical component of this commitment.”