Gastonia Police Chief To Retire

GASTONIA, N.C.,None — Gastonia Police Chief Tim Adams has announced that he will retire officially on Jan. 1, and a retirement ceremony will be scheduled sometime in December.

"I have been contemplating retirement for some time now and have finally made a decision," Adams said in an e-mail Sept. 1 to employees. "As I have said many times in the past, our best asset within the Gastonia Police Department is the quality of employees that dedicate each and every day to making this a great department. We are blessed to have great leaders that stand ready to take the helm of this department and move it to the next level of professionalism."

Adams will retire as a 30-year veteran of the GPD. His career with the GPD began in 1982 as a patrolman; he was promoted through the ranks, and served as interim chief following the retirements of Chief Rodney Parham and Chief Terry Sult. He was selected as Gastonia's 21 chief of police on Nov. 20, 2008.

"It was my distinct privilege to have named Tim Adams as police chief for the city of Gastonia, and with each passing week since that time his actions and efforts on behalf of our citizens have proven just how right that decision was," City Manager Jim Palenick said. "Our community has been extremely well-served under the watchful stewardship of Chief Adams and we will miss his dedication and leadership. At the same time, however, he leaves in place a top-level management team of law enforcement professionals ready to continue to move the Department forward as a legacy to his direction and vision. Tim Adams has our sincere gratitude."

WSOC