Interim Police Chief Adrian Hunt is installed as the new full-time police chief for the town of Pembroke on Wednesday evening. That’s Shelena Smith, the Robeson County clerk of court who administered the oath on left and Hunt’s wife, Ketisa, to the right.
Michael Futch | The Robesonian
PEMBROKE – Adrian Hunt, who twice has held the title of interim police chief in Pembroke, was installed Wednesday evening as the full-time chief of police for the growing Robeson County town.
“Today is a very special day,” Mayor Greg Cummings said at the beginning of the oath of office ceremony held in the Pembroke Town Hall Council Chambers. “Sometimes, you know, Rome’s not built in a day. Sometimes you’re always on time. This is the time for Adrian Hunt.”
The 46-year-old Hunt, who is a native son of Pembroke, took on the role of incumbent police chief for the second time after James Jones Jr. resigned as the town’s chief cop on Dec. 8, 2022.
Hunt previously had filled the post when Edward Locklear resigned in October 2021. That was before former chief Jones came aboard on June 13, 2022.
He has spent the duration of his law enforcement career — 27 1/2 years — with the Pembroke Police Department, having started out in communications at the age of 18 in January 1997. Over that stretch, he has worked for six different police chiefs.
As the new chief, he oversees a current department of 12 officers. It is his goal to have the agency fully staffed with 14 police officers by Lumbee Homecoming on July 4.
Town Manager Tyler Thomas gave the same answer Wednesday that he gave at the time of Jones’ resignation. That Jones had stepped away “in the best interest of the town.” Just as he did then, he would not elaborate.
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