Kinston welcomes new police chief from Chapel Hill

Kinston this morning welcomed a new police chief with more than 20 years of experience.

Alonzo Jaynes' hiring was announced at a news conference at city hall.

Jaynes is currently the assistant chief for Chapel Hill, a job he's held since 2014. Prior to that he spent 19 years with the Durham Police Department.

"Just because someone doesn't do things the way you want them to, it doesn't mean that it's wrong, right? And the second thing I learned was, it's not about me, it's about the mission," said the new chief.

And his mission in Kinston? "Enhancing community relations, building bridges, and improving the quality of life," according to Jaynes.

Greg Thompson has been interim chief since Bill Johnson retired late last year as the city's public safety director.

Jaynes starts September 19th.