Dunn Names New Police Chief

By The Daily Record of Dunn

DUNN – Dunn leaders welcomed its new police chief at the Dunn City Council meeting Tuesday night.

The city announced it selected Timothy “Lynn” Gay as its new chief of police with Gay set to begin work during the week of Feb. 2. Gay brings three decades of leadership and North Carolina law enforcement experience to Dunn.

He will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of former Dunn Police Chief Cary Jackson. Nicholas Simmons has served as interim chief since her departure in October.

The city’s new chief began his law enforcement career with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in 1996 where he worked his way up the ranks to become the agency’s assistant director of field operations. Most recently, he served as the deputy chief of police of the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Police Department where he oversaw uniformed patrol operations and the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Chief Gay has an expertise in combating drug distribution networks and worked alongside local, state and federal partners throughout North Carolina and the United States. In addition to drug investigations, he has led investigations involving murder for hire, homicide, sexual assault, arson, public corruption, and excessive use of force. He was a member of the SBI Bomb Squad from 2004 until 2020.

He has also served as an instructor for the SBI Special Agent Academy, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, numerous local law enforcement agencies and other first responders. He has taught law enforcement and ethical principles in the Philippines, Egypt, Thailand, and Nicaragua. Gay holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, received his North Carolina Advanced Law Enforcement Certification in 2008, and is a graduate of the North Carolina State University Administrative Officers Management Program. He attended the 83rd session of the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) at Boston University in 2023.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Dunn,” Gay said. “It is a profound privilege to lead such a dedicated team of men and women who serve our community every day. I am committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, building stronger partnerships with residents, and ensuring the safety and well-being of all who call this community home.”

The city engaged in a comprehensive search and selection process lead by Developmental Associates to find its next chief. Over the past several months, city leaders and Developmental Associates reviewed and accessed numerous candidates from across the country. The process included stakeholder interviews, a community input session, candidate assessment exercises and candidate interviews.

“This selection process was robust and, at times, intense for the candidates. At the end of day, the process was driven by our desire to find a true leader,” said Dunn City Manager Justin Hembree. “We focused on leadership experience, integrity, and commitment to public safety and commitment to the community. After a comprehensive review of all factors and candidates, Chief Gay emerged as the right public servant to lead our department into the future. His decades of proven leadership will greatly benefit our community, and I could not be more excited for the City, the Police Department, and our community. We welcome Lynn to the City of Dunn Team.”