Winston-Salem Police Department Chief Barry D. Rountree will be retiring on September 1, 2017. He has served as chief since 2013, and been with the department for over 29 years.
Rountree says he's “had a very rewarding career.”
Since becoming a police officer in 1988, he has moved up the ranks and “been able to serve in nearly every sworn position in the department.”
Chief Rountree points out that while he has not sustained serious injuries while with the force, not all officers are so lucky.
“During my career with the police department I have seen eight coworkers lose their lives while serving,” he says. “They are a constant reminder to all police officers of the risks they take to ensure the public safety.”
Rountree holds degrees from Winston-Salem State University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also has an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Standards Training Commission.
According to Winston-Salem City Manager Lee Garrity, “Chief Rountree has enhanced public safety while avoiding the community-trust challenges that other communities have faced.”
Garrity says the process of choosing the next chief starts with consulting the mayor, city council, the police department, and leaders in the community.