ALBEMARLE — Following a nationwide search, the Albemarle Police Department has its new police chief.
Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark announced in a Jan. 3 press release that the city has selected Ryan Manley as its chief with a start date exactly a month later on Feb. 3.
“Throughout the interview process, Chief Manley demonstrated a deep understanding of the law enforcement profession, exceptional technical expertise, and a community-focused approach to policing,” Clark said. “Safety and security are fundamental to a high quality of life in any community. We are excited to have Chief Manley join our team as we continue striving to provide effective and efficient public safety services.”
In October, former APD Chief Jason Bollhorst resigned after three years with the department as Penny Dunn was chosen as interim chief during the hiring process for a full-time position — one which has now been filled by Manley.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve the residents of Albemarle alongside the dedicated men and women of the Albemarle Police Department,” Manley said.
According to the city, the APD chief hiring process contained a comprehensive evaluation of both internal and external candidates where finalists participated in skill-based assessments and a final round of panel interviews.
“I look forward to building trust and fostering strong connections with our community, the APD team, and other law enforcement agencies,” Manley added. “There are exciting, positive developments happening in Albemarle, and I’m thrilled to join the team working to help the community reach its full potential.”
Manley, a native of western New York, moved to North Carolina as he pursued a career in criminal justice, working as a counselor technician for the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention before completing basic law enforcement training.
In 2002, Manley joined the Fayetteville Police Department as a police officer in the department’s patrol bureau before shifting his focus to field training and the investigative bureau as a narcotics detective and K9 handler.
Once he was promoted to a sergeant position, he supervised the department’s crime information center and fraud unit while also commanding units within the patrol and support services bureaus as a lieutenant.
He also holds experience as a member of the Cumberland County Veterans Treatment Court’s treatment team and the leader of the Cumberland Fayetteville Crisis Intervention Team’s negotiation team.
Two years ago, Manley was selected for the National Institute of Justice’s Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Scholars Program that prioritizes evidence-based policing to improve law enforcement’s research capabilities.
Additionally, he is a graduate of the 290th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, which is renowned for its invitation-only admittance process that brings in only 250 candidates nationwide per session.
Manley has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Political Science degree from the State University of New York College at Brockport, as well as a Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree from Fayetteville State University.
He also completed the North Carolina Justice Academy’s Management Development Program and earned an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Training and Standards Commission.