James “Jimmy” Crayton III, a former investigator with the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office has been named the new police chief in the Town of Wallace, NC. Crayton was selected in September out of three finalists for the position. He began work in Wallace, population 3,880, on Monday.
Crayton had worked for the last 10 years in District Attorney’s Office assisting local law enforcement agencies with investigations and other departmental needs such as writing search warrants, developing departmental policies, advising officers on charging decisions, and reviewing case files. Crayton would also conduct special investigations at the request of the District Attorney including investigations concerning judges, lawyers, police officers, coworkers, public officials and citizens.
As the Assistant to District attorney Susan Doyle, Crayton was responsible for all human resources and personnel issues for a staff of twenty-four full time employees and up to fourteen interns. These duties included interviewing and hiring applicants, developing an orientation program, training and placement of new employees, budget and salary issues, supervising a team of professionals and conducting performance evaluations.
Prior to his employment with the District Attorney’s Office, Crayton began his career with the Smithfield Police Department as a patrol officer. In the two and a half years as a patrol officer, Crayton received hundreds of hours of training including Field Training Officer and First Line Supervision which allowed for him to progress through the ranks to Master Patrol Officer. Crayton then was selected out of numerous applicants for a position in the detective’s division. As a Detective, Crayton managed a heavy case load consisting of property crimes, financial crimes, sex crimes and violent crimes including murders.
Crayton has a Masters of Justice Administration degree from Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology also from Methodist University. He has served on the Board on Directors of the North Carolina Homicide Investigators Association since 2006 and is the current president of the association. Crayton is also a North Carolina certified Criminal Justice Instructor and Faculty/Instructor with the NC Conference of District Attorneys. Crayton has been responsible for the training and curriculum development for various law enforcement training programs.
Crayton is originally from Cumberland County where he graduated from Cape Fear High School. He was raised in a Christian home by two Cumberland County school teachers who instilled in him a passion and desire to treat others as he would want to be treated.
In addition to his law enforcement career, Crayton is an active member of the Greater Heights United Methodist Church in Clayton. He helped to plant this church in 2007 and served as the youth pastor until 2014.
Crayton replaces former Wallace Police Chief Tray Giddeons who resigned in May 2017 amidst misconduct allegations.
