First female Cary police chief reaches last day on the job

Bazemore, 53, told WRAL News that in retirement she plans to focus on time with family, travel and volunteer work.

When Bazemore was named chief in 2008, she was the first woman to hold that post in Cary. She was also the department’s first female lieutenant, captain, major and deputy chief.

When Bazemore joined the department in 1986, there were 31 staff members serving the town’s population of about 32,000. Today, Cary has 153,000 residents and a police department with 230 employees.

The town is conducting a national search for a new police chief. So far, they have not named a replacement.