MAXTON — Damon Williams will resign as police chief of the Maxton Police Department to accept the chief’s position in Tarboro.
Williams, who is 33 years old, said he plans to begin his new job in mid-June. He was unclear on Friday when his last day with the Maxton Police Department would be.
William leaves shortly after the Maxton Board of Commissioners eliminated two positions with the department because of budget woes. Williams said the department had 14 positions when he accepted the job in April 2010, and after the recent round of cuts would be down to nine positions, including the chief’s.
But he said it wasn’t just the smaller force that prompted him to pursue other opportunities.
“I didn’t start shopping because they cut the force but did so because they were micromanaging that process,” he said.
Williams came to Maxton after working for three and a half years as chief of the Taylortown Police Department in Moore County. A Baltimore native, he had worked previously as an educator with the Moore County schools before getting into law enforcement in 2005.
Williams said the Tarboro department boasts a total of 29 full-time officers, including the chief’s position.
“I’m sad to leave here, but excited about the job opportunity,” Williams said.
Tarboro, which is located in Edgecombe County, has a population of about 13,000 people.
Williams has lived in Hoke County with his wife and their three children while working in Maxton.
Attempts to reach Maxton town officials on Friday afternoon were unsuccessful. However, the commissioners were recently told they were facing a financial crisis and the town would be broke by the fall if changes were not made.
Members of the current board have said they inherited the financial mess, and that tough decisions such as reducing the police force have to be made.
Doc Oxendine