PITTSBORO — Tracy Kelly quietly made history in February when she was promoted to the rank of chief deputy of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.
Although becoming chief deputy is an impressive career milestone for any law enforcement professional, Kelly is unique in that she is the first female in the role and highest-ranking female the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office has seen in over 100 years.
Only Sheriff Mary Myrtle Siler, the first female sheriff in the state of North Carolina, achieved a higher rank when she was appointed Chatham County Sheriff in 1920.
“It feels amazing to reach this landmark. It was always a goal of mine to advance to this level, and it took a lot of determination and focus to get here,” said Kelly, a Pittsboro resident. “I wasn’t lucky enough to have a female role model during my law enforcement career, so I sometimes had to navigate my own way. I’ve always sought to better myself through education, professional certifications, or positions of increasing responsibility, and I’m honored to take this next step.”
“Tracy Kelly was appointed chief deputy because she is the right person for the job and has a long track record of effectual leadership,” said Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson. “She earned each and every promotion through demonstrated leadership, unwavering commitment and years of great personal sacrifice. She has consistently proven herself to be insightful, decisive and capable of achieving any task set before her. I am exceptionally proud of her and look forward to watching her flourish in this new role.”
During her nearly 20-year career with the Sheriff’s Office, Kelly has served at every rank, breaking barriers at every stage along the way; she previously made history in 2018 when she became the first woman in the agency’s history to achieve the rank of major.
On the topic of challenging the status quo, Kelly says she hopes to inspire others to do the same.
“For anyone harboring big ambitions, don’t let fear hold you back… Set high goals and stay committed to your dreams. Hard work does pay off!” she said. “I may be the first female chief deputy at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, but I hope I am not the last.”
Kelly attributes her resilience as a leader to her willingness to grow and adapt to changing circumstances. The key, she says, is learning from one’s failures as well as one’s successes along the way.
“Every position has challenged me and helped me grow in different ways as a law enforcement professional and leader,” Kelly said. “Every experience I’ve had, positive or negative, has taught me something valuable I can carry with me. I’ve never had two days that were exactly the same, and that’s part of the reason I was drawn to law enforcement as a career field.”
Kelly shares that she was first attracted to the idea of serving her community while growing up in McDowell County in western North Carolina. She began her journey with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office before moving to Chatham in 1994. After the move, she accepted a job with the Carrboro Police Department and was later invited to join the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office family in 2002.
Kelly says she remains exceedingly grateful to the many mentors who inspired and guided her as she gathered knowledge and experience over her 28 years in the profession. She hopes she can do the same for the next generation of officers and serve as a role model for those around her.
“I want to be remembered for helping employees reach their goals, cultivating good relationships with other departments and offices, and positively impacting the residents we serve,” Kelly explains. “It isn’t specifically that I, myself, want to be remembered… but rather the impact of my efforts to make the Sheriff’s Office the best it can be for the public and employees who work here.”
One of the ways Kelly is advocating for employees is by being a vocal supporter of mental health and wellness services for law enforcement professionals.
“Mental health awareness is such an important area and is especially important in law enforcement,” she said. “It would be great to see more mental health professionals specializing in treating first responders. Stress in this job can be all-consuming, and it helps to have access to resources and mental health professionals who understand specific stressors first responders experience.”
Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Sara Pack said staff members hold a deep respect and admiration for Kelly due to her reputation for honesty, sound judgment and getting results.
“Tracy Kelly is incredibly driven, but still puts the wellbeing of others ahead of her own. She is never too busy to check on staff members or lend an ear when they need someone to talk to,” Pack said. “Tracy is straightforward, reliable and genuinely compassionate whenever staff members are struggling personally or professionally. She picks people up when they fall.”
Kelly agrees the most valuable thing leaders can do is to make themselves available for their team.
“Leaders should be a resource for employees, too. It is important to show your staff that they can talk to you and feel heard and supported,” she said. “Although I am proud and excited to be appointed chief deputy, I also feel an amplified sense of responsibility to care for our staff. I will continue to lead by example and support employees to the best of my ability.”
Retired Sheriff Richard Webster, who noticed Kelly’s superior work ethic while she was still working for Carrboro Police Department, called her “an awesome, professional, hardworking officer and a cherished friend.”
“She took a huge leap of faith to join the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office all those years ago, but she has made the agency a better place since the day she walked through the door,” Webster said. “The day I heard she made chief, I smiled and thought, ‘Well done! Well-deserved!’… She is a terrific role model, and I could not be happier for her.”
Her co-workers say Kelly serves as an impressive example for law enforcement professionals well beyond the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. She holds a master’s degree in justice administration, bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, associate’s degree in basic law enforcement training, and Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates from both the Criminal Justice and Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commissions. Kelly has earned a Meritorious Achievement Award, numerous Certificates of Appreciation, and the Sheriff’s Office Community Service Award for her volunteerism to benefit the residents of Chatham County.
Outside of the office, Kelly serves as a Specialized Driving Instructor for cadets in Basic Law Enforcement Training. Concerning her passion for teaching and her reasons for specializing in driving, Kelly says: “Driving is one of the most important responsibilities we have in law enforcement — not only for ourselves but for the public, too. I wanted to have a hand in helping educate future deputies or officers in essential driving skills.”
She emphasizes that driving is a potentially lethal activity and cadets must understand the possible consequences of driving faster than they can safely travel based on environmental conditions and their individual level of training.
“Law enforcement is one of the most varied and rewarding career fields… There are so many different options to choose from. If you have a desire to give back to your community, this is a great way to do it — but we must strive to do so in the safest way possible,” she said. “It is important to know our own limitations and remember we are all human and capable of making mistakes… Donning a uniform does not change that!”
Kelly says she hopes to continue to highlight the humanity of law enforcement professionals behind the badge during her time as chief: “I want the public to get to know me as a person, not just as ‘Chief Deputy Kelly’… I want them to recognize me as ‘Tracy’ — the avid reader and kayaker who enjoys gardening, biking and cross stitch. Like most residents, I cherish my family, and I’m passionate about my work and my hobbies. We all have so much more in common than we realize; we just have to find that shared thread and keep moving forward.”