02/15/2021
From the desk of Chief Brown:
Serving the Hertford Community has been an honor and privilege. When arriving in Hertford in 2018, I was immediately welcomed as family, and I quickly discovered the love and compassion in our town which my family has grown to cherish. The police department today has some of the most talented and effective officers I have been privileged to work with over the past two decades. The men and women of HPD care about our town and want to do his/her level best to ensure we get Hertford on the right track.
This announcement is bitter sweet. I have accepted a more stable position which will provide increased financial support for my family and professional growth. This decision was not reached in haste, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this new community.
I have been and remain honored to be your Chief. I have made numerous friends and leave a fantastic police department which is finally ready to reach its potential. We have accomplished many success over the years.
I will be here until the end of March, so please stop in or call. I would enjoy hearing from everyone. I hope you continue to support your great police department and the men and women who have committed to Hertford. Thank you all for your support.
Dennis Brown
TO: Honorable Mayor Brown
Hertford Town Council
Manager Pam Hurdle
FROM: Dennis Brown, Chief of Police
REFERENCE: Letter of Resignation
DATE: February 14, 2021
Madam Mayor,
Since starting with the Town of Hertford Police Department in 2018, I have truly enjoyed serving our exceptional residents and businesses. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with such a fantastic community.
During my tenure, the police department has reconnected with our community through a customer service-based community policing model. This approach has healed old wounds and brought about a positive relationship between our officers and residents. The police department has embraced the 21st Century Model of Policing and made its mandates key fundamental elements of our service plan. The evidence room, which has been a historic point of concern, has been inventoried and property is being managed in a legal and professional manner.
When I was hired by the town, the police department had only two full time officers and one administrative assistant. Today, the department has eight full time officers, five part-time officers, one administrative assistant, and a recommendation to the manager to hire a ninth officer. We have reorganized the department to meet the growing law enforcement needs of our community, to provide supervision and accountability to staff, and to add a clear career path for our officers to increase longevity.
We have incorporated nationally accredited policies for high liability areas and the department’s Use of Force Policy is certified as best practice by the United States Department of Justice regarding Standards for Certification on Safe Policing for Communities. We have incorporated a standardized hiring policy which has increased diversity in our department and adheres to best practice. We have embraced technology to include body and vehicle cameras as well as equipment in our cruisers which allow staff to be independent and work remotely. Our agency has updated responses to calls and increased case closure which has helped victims find justice. Overall, I leave a department which is staffed with exceptional members who care greatly for the Hertford community and only want the department to find more success.
The current acrimonious political environment is impacting me, my family, and the department. The police department is being used by some as a tool for discord. This is not our primary function and is placing staff in the middle of political disagreements. My loyalty has always been with the citizens, and I have sought strategies which positively impact the town. I have employed judicious and equal enforcement of the law and never showed favoritism to one person or group. Conversely, it was made public last year of an exploration of a council member into the disbanding the police department. While the public and most of the council greatly supports the department, I do not believe this goal has been abandoned and could be serving as a motivation for some decisions.
Therefore, I have accepted a more stable position which will provide increased financial support for my family and professional growth. This decision was not reached in haste, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this new community. As required in my employment agreement, I am providing a 45-day notice in which the town can establish a transition plan. My last day with the Town of Hertford will be March 31, 2021. Serving Hertford has been an exceptional honor and I wish the department and community nothing but success.
Respectfully,
Dennis Brown
