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Zuidema sworn in as new police chief

The dress rehearsal for Garner’s new police chief is over: Brandon Zuidema was sworn in today as the town’s top public safety officer.

Brandon Zuidema

Town Clerk Judy Bass administered a brief oath to Zuidema, 38, in front of dozens of family, friends and colleagues during a formal ceremony at Garner Historic Auditorium.

The town screened nearly 70 candidates during a lengthy and competitive search for a successor to Tom Moss, who retired in October. Assessors ran applicants through real-life role plays such as guiding a neighborhood association meeting. Town Manager Hardin Watkins spoke glowingly about the performance of Zuidema, who was the town’s top choice.

On Tuesday, Zuidema got to do the job for real. He has been meeting with senior GPD administrators and other department heads at Town Hall this week. So far, so good, town leaders said.

“He’s hit the ground running,” Watkins said.

Zuidema is not new to real-world police work. Before coming to Garner, Zuidema was a captain for the Lynchburg Police Department in Virginia, where he had worked since 1994. While there he worked in a variety of units including gang enforcement, street crimes, negotiations and patrol. About 30 officers from the LPD showed up at the auditorium Friday in support of Zuidema.

Past co-workers were not surprised to hear that Zuidema would get to lead his own department. Detective Jerry Hise worked for Zuidema in investigations at LPD. As a supervisor, Zuidema was creative in coming up with several ways to solve a problem, Hise said. Zuidema would adjust his management style for the situation.

“He allowed us to work our cases but he also knew when to step in and give direction,” Hise said.

The move is a good fit for Zuidema’s family and his career, he said. He is joined by his wife, Spring, and their two daughters: Megan, 12, and Molly, 9.

In Garner, Zuidema inherits a nationally accredited department that has a good reputation around town. He also has a network of LPD alums in North Carolina. Apex Police Chief Jack Lewis was Zuidema’s deputy for operations at LPD before coming to Wake County five years ago. The new chief has experienced friends he can turn to as he adjusts to differences in law enforcement between the two states.

Lewis said support is vital for a new chief. The position requires learning quickly whom to rely on while instilling confidence in others — especially in a crisis.

A year after Lewis was hired in Apex, the EQ plant exploded and he was suddenly coordinating a major public safety effort that included a town-wide evacuation.  Other agencies helped immensely during that time.

“Brandon’s success will hinge on his ability to build effective relationships — with department heads, with elected officials and with the community.…You do that by earning people’s trust,” Lewis said.

Now that the dry run is over, Garner’s new chief is ready for the big show.

“I recognize the enormous responsibility I have to the community here. I have to get to know everyone and to develop their trust in me,” he said.

Related articles:

• Garner’s new top cop
• Survey: What do you want in a police chief?
• Garner starts search for new police leader

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