Chief among us

Chris Forehand takes finds a home at the Ayden Police Department

By Pat Gruner

Chris Forehand might not be a native of Ayden, but his ties to the area date back more than 20 years.

In that time, he’s come to call the town home. Now, as he starts his career as the Ayden Police Department’s chief, he’s making it his mission to ensure ofcers have the same respect for the city and its people as he does.

In 1989, Forehand moved to Pitt County to attend Pitt Community College. He received an associate’s degree in criminal justice and started his law enforcement career with the Ayden police as a reserve ofcer in 1993.

“I was promoted to full time in August or September of ’94,” Forehand said. “I’ve been here ever since and done about every job you can do in this department.”

Tat fexibility saw Forehand promoted all the way up to captain and then interimchief for six months. Now, he’s taking the helm as the department’s full time chief.

Forehand’s love for Ayden is obvious. Before talking about the department he spent time detailing the pride he takes in the town’s infrastructure, particularly the benefits for young people.

“We have great schools in this town,” Forehand said. “Our recreation department is fantastic when it comes to handling all the sports in town. From football to basketball to baseball and soccer they’re taking care of just about every one you can think of. Now we have Ayden District Park on Jolly Road which has a great disc golf course.”

Ayden’s new Police Chief Chris Forehand

“Our guys are stopping to engage with people and take an interest in them. Whether that’s helping out with a flat tire or just hanging out and shooting the breeze.”

Ayden Police Chief Chris Forehand

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Forehand tries to instill that kind of respect, interest and pride in the community in his officers, he said. It’s his way of building trust and maintaining transparency. He also hopes that it makes residents feel like they can count on the department even in unusual times.

“I tell the young guys the same thing,” Forehand said. “You can be that preconceived defnition of an ofcer that the public has in mind when they think of police. Especially now. But, if you treat people with respect and build that relationship, that’s the diference.”

Te chief takes a lot of pride in that sort of transparency. He believes it makes people more comfortable when voicing their needs to the city, police included.

“Our major means of connecting with the public is the Ayden Community Policing Council,” Forehand said. “It is entirely volunteer driven along with department liaisons. Once a month we gather at the community building with everyone in town to hear from the community. We let people voice their issues. For them, it might be needing a new stoplight or road work done. Te council also lets us do several projects behind the department.”

One of the projects which Forehand takes a lot of pride in is the annual Shop with a Cop program. Around the December holidays, the department receives donations to give kids in need the Christmas they deserve.

“It depends on donations but we typically get about $300 per kid,” Forehand said. “Last year we received about $400 per kid. Half of that we put toward shoes and clothes and the other half is for stuf that they want.”

Forehand laughed.

“Te kids almost always end up telling us to get things for their families,” he said. “You’re getting things for them and they make sure to tell you they need things for their siblings instead. It’s a big help for families.”

Te event ends with a dinner for the families the week of Christmas.

Forehand said that approaching policing from a place of giving and mutual respect makes Ayden diferent.

“When you get home and you turn on the news, the things you see are not what we see in the office,” Forehand said. “Sometimes it can be more difficult to operate like that and make sure we’re fostering those relationships. But I can say we don’t see that negative dynamic at work. We are out there 12 hours a day and not just on calls and stops. Our guys are stopping to engage with people and take an interest in them. Whether that’s helping out with a flat tire or just hanging out and shooting the breeze.”

Proud to call Ayden home.

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