Following a nationwide search and intensive interview process, Wake Forest Town Manager Kip Padgett is pleased to announce that Interim Police Chief Julius Jefferson has been appointed permanent Police Chief. Jefferson had served as Interim Chief since Jeff Leonard’s retirement on February 1.

“Chief Jefferson has shown outstanding leadership throughout his nearly 20-year tenure with the Wake Forest Police Department,” said Padgett. “He has built tremendous trust with officers, command staff, professional staff, the Town’s leadership team, and our community. I am confident he will continue to lead the department with integrity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to our community’s safety.”

A Warren County native, Jefferson started his career with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office in 1996 as a Detention Officer. In 1999 he was promoted to Detention Sergeant, a position he held until starting Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at Vance-Granvile Community College in January 2006. He graduated from BLET later that year.

In September 2006, Jefferson began working with the Wake Forest Police Department as a Patrol Officer. Since then, he has worked as a Patrol Sergeant, Impact Sergeant, Traffic Sergeant, Impact Lieutenant, and Impact Captain. He has also served on the Wake County Traffic Safety Task Force.

Jefferson earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Vance-Granville Community College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UNC Pembroke. He also attended the 69th session of the Administrative Officers Management Program through NC State, FBI-LEEDA Trilogy (Executive Leadership, Command Leadership, and Supervisor Leadership), FBI Command College, and Ethical Leadership and Leadership on the Line.

When he’s not working, Jefferson enjoys watching movies, carpentry, cleaning cars, and attending car shows.

A community “meet and greet” with Jefferson is being planned for later this year. To contact Chief Jefferson email jjefferson@wakeforestnc.gov.

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, under the Direction of President and Warren County Commissioner Tare “T” Davis, has launched an initiative called “Heroic Hands” to recognize one government employee from each county in North Carolina who goes above and beyond in serving their county.

Warren County is asking for your input as we choose a county employee to nominate for this recognition. Nominations will be accepted until 5:00 pm. on June 24, 2025. The nomination form is available at Warren County Government Employee Heroic Hands Nomination Form.

If you have any questions, please contact Paula Pulley at paulapulley@warrencountync.gov or by phone at 252-257-3115.

The Warren County Health Department and Warren County Government hosted a kick-off meeting on March 26th for the federal Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Impact Grant. Staff from the Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition (WCSPC) who are leading this regional effort came to Warren County to introduce the program to local partners and to get their input on how the program can best be implemented here.

WCSPC staff in attendance were Jeff Wilson, Executive Director; Pamela Letchworth, Yolanda Outlaw, and Cordain Dancy.

Local partners participating in the meeting included representatives from Freedom House Recovery Center, Trillium Health Resources, Warrenton Church of God, Warren County Schools, Emergency Services, Health Department, Administration/Finance Office, Sheriff’s Office/Detention Center, Auger Communications, and Hope Restorative Solutions.

The Warren County Health Department is a Network member in the Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition’s NEW3 Impact – Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Warren, Wayne – Project. NEW3 Impact will improve access to integrated, coordinated treatment and recovery services for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder, in rural areas of Eastern North Carolina. NEW3 Impact supports HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Impact. 

The five counties taking part in this grant represent a diversity of sectors, including primary care, pharmacy, public health, workforce, local government, faith-based, law enforcement, tribal, and substance use. Collectively, 77% of Network members reside within HRSA-designated rural areas. As Network members, we will:

• Provide services exclusively in the target rural service areas of Warren County, Wilson County, Bailey Township (Nash County), Mount Olive/Brogden Township (Wayne County), and eastern/southeastern Edgecombe County. 
• Commit to regularly engage and visit the target rural service areas to demonstrate strong connections with the communities. 
• Participate in regular Network meetings, which will take place at least quarterly. 
• Coordinate with other Network members on NEW3 Impact activities. In addition to committing to NEW3 Impact activities we are individually responsible for as outlined in the work plan, we will work with all members to:
  • Distribute OneBoxes to increase access to emergency treatment.
  •  Distribute fentanyl and xylazine testing strips to address emerging threats.
• Participate in the RCORP Data Sharing Group, led by Pamela Letchworth, and share aggregate data for performance reporting to HRSA. 
• Develop approaches to ensure continuity of operations to minimize the impact of potential service disruptions such as staffing changes, clinician turnover, public health emergencies, and severe weather.
• Work together to develop a sustainability plan to maintain services after the project ends. 

The duration of the NEW3 Impact Project is 4 years. The total award is $2,997,556 and Warren County Health Department is expected to receive $600,000 over the life of this grant.