Town Creates Separate Police & Fire Departments 06/28/06

The rapid growth of recent years has prompted Holly Springs to move forward with transforming its Public Safety Department into separate Police and Fire departments.

Public Safety Chief Cecil Parker will become chief of the Town's Fire - Rescue Department, which includes Emergency Medical Services. Police Lt. John Herring has been named interim police chief.

The reorganization takes effect July 1.

The long-envisioned changes follow the opening of the $3 million fire station on Holly Springs Road . The station was needed to accommodate increased calls for service spurred by growth.

“We knew this would come at some point in time,” Town Manager Carl Dean said of the reorganization, adding separate departments would help Holly Springs stay “ahead of the curve” and operate efficiently.

Parker endorsed the reorganization and the selection of Herring to head the Police Department.

“It makes me proud as chief that somebody I hired and trained is following in my footsteps,” Parker said Wednesday, thanking the manager and Town Council for their support.

Herring, a 12 ½ year veteran of the department, will serve as interim chief for 90 days. Assistant Town Manager Charles Simmons said there were no plans at this time to seek other candidates, noting the respect that Herring commands from his peers.

“We are very satisfied with the direction of the department based on the constant feedback we're getting from the community,” Simmons said. “We feel  that John can continue us in that direction.”

Herring said he appreciates the opportunity to lead the Police Department.

“I hope we continue to deliver the level of service we have in the last 12 years,” he said Tuesday.

Town officials have met with the entire Public Safety Department this week to brief them on the decision to split police and fire operations. Simmons said the Town Council concurs with the creation of separate departments.

“Now is a great time to do it because things are going well,” he said.

Holly Springs has 25 sworn police officers and seven civilian support personnel, plus five part-time employees. The Fire  - Rescue Department has 21 firefighters, EMS and office personnel  and is adding three additional firefighters to help staff the new station. Six part-time firefighters are also with the department.

Parker was a Garner firefighter and Wake County sheriff's deputy before coming to Holly Springs in November 1992 as police chief. About a year later, the Town began to implement its own fire service as population growth began pushing calls for service up sharply.

In April 1995, Holly Springs hired its first firefighters. Parker became Public Safety chief since the Town was too small for separate Police and Fire departments. Even so, he viewed the combination as a transitional measure.

“We don't need to stay in this forever,” he  maintained at the time, calling for a plan to separate police and fire operations when growth justified it.

For several years, Town police officers fought fires as well. As Holly Springs grew, the duties were separated but Public Safety remained a single organization.

Although he knew the Town would grow, Parker said the change has far outpaced what he foresaw.

“I think it's far exceeded what anyone ever imagined other than Gerald Holleman,” Parker said, referring to the man who charted Holly Springs ' transformation from a rural community while serving as mayor from 1983 to 2001.

Dean said he was glad the Town could promote from within, adding that Herring understands the Police Department and could keep it heading in the right direction when Parker takes command of Fire-Rescue.

Herring gave credit to his predecessor, saying he was grateful for what Parker has done for him in his career with the department.

“I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him,” Herring said.

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us