Deputy Chief of Police Nicholas (Nick) Polidori has been named the Southern Pines Chief of Police effective October 1 following the retirement of Chief Robert Temme.
Nick has served as Deputy Chief since July of 2013 and has twenty-four years of law enforcement experience, all serving the Town of Southern Pines.
Chief Polidori received his Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Stanly Community College.
Chief Polidori has completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Supervisory Institute, Command Institute and Executive Institute and attained a Graduate Certificate from the University of Virginia. Chief Polidori is a graduate of the 269th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.
After serving in the United States Marine Corps for four years in an Infantry Regiment at Camp Lejeune, NC, Deputy Chief Polidori remained in North Carolina to attend the police academy.
He began his career with the Southern Pines Police Department in September of 1996 as a Patrol Officer. Chief Polidori has worked many assignments throughout his career at the Southern Pines Police Department, rising through the Patrol Division ranks as a Sergeant and Lieutenant before being promoted to Interim Operations Captain and then Deputy Chief in the Administration Division with oversight of agency operations.
In addition to his regular assignments, Chief Polidori served as a member of the Special Response Team for approximately eleven years and was the Team Commander for five of those years.
Chief Polidori served as both a Field Training Officer and as the Field Training and Evaluation Program Coordinator for a number of years. Chief Polidori is a state-certified General Instructor and Specialized Firearms Instructor and was previously a certified Speed Measuring Instrument Instructor and School Director for this training at Sandhills Community College.
Chief Polidori is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the North Carolina Police Executive Association and the FBI National Academy Associates. Chief Polidori also serves on the Sandhills Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training Advisory Board, is a member of the Triangle J Council of Governments Regional Recruitment Partnership and was a previous member of the Moore County Friend to Friend Board of Directors.
In making the appointment, Town Manager Reagan Parsons stated “Having served as Deputy Chief for seven years, Nick has a long history of service and dedication to the Town of Southern Pines. He has worked under three exceptional Chiefs of Police and continually strived to improve himself and make his community a safer and exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family. I have enjoyed witnessing his rise through the ranks and am very pleased to have the opportunity to now work with him in the capacity of Chief of Police. Nick brings both the advantages of a historical perspective and a vision and energy focused toward a continuance of excellence while adapting services to meet the needs of our evolving community. Pursued by other agencies based on his reputation and self-improvement efforts, I am excited for Nick knowing that this was the job he always had in mind while putting in the extra hours and efforts.”
Courtesy photo/Contributed.
