The Valdese Police Department, in serving the people of Valdese, strives to reduce crime and provide a safe town by:
- Recognizing that its goal is to help people and provide assistance at every opportunity;
- Providing preventive, investigative, and enforcement services;
- Increasing citizen satisfaction with public safety;
- Obtaining community cooperation through the Department's training, skills, and efforts.
- Realizing that the Police Department alone cannot control crime, but must act in cooperation with the community and the rest of the Criminal Justice System.
In achieving these goals, the men and women of the Valdese Police Department will ethically conduct themselves. They will always abide by the following directives.
- Respect and protect the rights of citizens as determined by the law;
- Treat citizens and their fellow employees courteously and with the dignity which they expect to be treated themselves;
- Be examples of honesty and integrity in their professional and personal lives, thereby earning the public trust;
- Perform their duties with the knowledge that the protection of the lives & property of all citizens is their primary duty; and
- Comply with the spirit and letter of the Code of Ethics.
2016 Safest Cities - Safewise Voted Valdese #17 Safest City in NC
Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.90 | Property Crimes per 1,000: 17.23
2015 Safest Cities - Safewise Voted Valdese #10 Safest City in NC
Violent Crimes per 1,000: .44 | Property Crimes per 1,000: 15.35
CONTACT INFORMATION |
|
|---|---|
| Chief of Police | Marc Sharpe |
| Assistant Chief of Police | James Buchanan |
| Administrative Assistant | Harley Chesek-Brown |
| Business Calls | (828) 879-2109 |
| Fax | (828) 879-2106 |
| Emergency Calls |
911 |
| Non-Emergency Calls |
828-879-2101 |
| Address |
P.O. Box 339 |
Valdese, NC – Valdese hires new Chief of Police
The Town of Valdese proudly announces the appointment of Marc Sharpe as the new Chief of Police effective March 25, 2024. With an impressive career spanning more than thirty-five years in law enforcement, Chief Sharpe brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and dedication to our community.
Chief Sharpe has a proven record of accomplishment in fostering community trust, implementing innovative strategies for crime prevention, and promoting a culture of accountability within law enforcement agencies. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety and the well-being of the citizens he served.
Chief Sharpe was born in Valdese and returned eighteen months ago with his wife, Lisa Crenshaw Sharpe. They have a combined family of three children who are now successful adults. Throughout his career, he has remained connected to Valdese through family, friends, and community involvement. Chief Sharpe was instrumental in the start of the Waldensian Presbyterian Children’s Soccer Camp Program. In 2012 he approached the church pastor with the idea of sharing the skills he acquired as a collegiate athlete on the Pembroke State soccer team with the children of Valdese and the surrounding area. For six years Chief Sharpe led the summer camp program as a Christian outreach and the summer camp continues today.
Early in his career, Chief Sharpe worked as a police officer with the City of Wilmington where he served the department by conducting patrol functions, and street-level drug interdiction, and was selected to serve on the City’s SWAT team. His duties also included undercover assignments and community policing. He worked to develop a community policing approach within one of the city’s public housing neighborhoods. This resulted in restoring the relationship and trust between the neighborhood’s residents and law enforcement. In the mid to late 1990’s he served locally on the Burke County Narcotics Task Force as an Asset Forfeiture Investigator, Conspiracy Case Investigator, and SWAT Team Member.
Chief Sharpe comes to Valdese with extensive supervisory experience. In his most recent years in law enforcement, he served as Chief Detective with the Avery County Sheriff’s Office (July 2022-March 2024), Investigator with Greenville County Sherriff’s Office (January 2018-July 2022), and Special Agent III later retiring as Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Chief Sharpe serves as an adjunct criminal justice professor with Catawba Valley Community College as well as Gardner Webb University.
“We are delighted to welcome Chief Sharpe to our Town and the Town of Valdese Police Department.,” said Mayor Watts. “His more than thirty-five years of experience, strong leadership qualities, and dedication to community policing make him the ideal candidate to lead our police force. We are confident that under his guidance, the department will continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service.”
Chief Sharpe expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I am honored to serve as the Chief of Police for The Town of Valdese. I am committed to building upon the department’s successes and working collaboratively with our community members to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.”
The Town of Valdese will formally welcome Chief Sharpe during a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, March 25th at 10am at the Town Hall Council Chambers. Please join us in welcoming Chief Marc Sharpe to the Town of Valdese and the Town of Valdese Police Department.
For information about employment opportunities with the Town of Valdese, visit townofvaldese.com.
