Veteran Cop Named Chapel Hill Police Chief

Maj. Brian Curran's appointment was announced at the Town Council meeting. He was to assume the post immediately, with an annual salary of $105,000.

"Brian is the best person to lead our police department and become part of the town's senior management team as we work collaboratively to make Chapel Hill an even better place to live," Town Manager Roger Stancil said in a statement.

Curran has served as interim chief since Gregg Jarvies retired as chief in April after 30 years with the department.

Former Fayetteville Police Chief Tom McCarthy was initially picked to lead the department but was unable to start on the job in June because of health reasons. So, the town reopened the application process.

A native of Hornell, N.Y., Curran served in the U.S. Navy for five years before coming to Chapel Hill. He has a bachelor's degree in history from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., earned an Administrative Officers Management Program certificate from North Carolina State University in 2004 and last year attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

He has held numerous positions with the Chapel Hill Police Department, including public safety officer, juvenile officer, patrol sergeant, detective, narcotics squad leader and Northside neighborhood squad leader.

"I plan to continue the great work that the men and women of the Chapel Hill Police Department have been performing for the town for years," he said in the statement. "I am also looking forward to working with the manager and his staff, as well as with members of the Chapel Hill community."

Curran will be responsible for assessing the department, creating a leadership development program and a diverse command and supervisory structure, expanding community policing efforts and taking the lead in finding solutions to community issues, Stancil said.