Pittsboro experienced the retirement, and then the reinstatement of the town’s police chief in 2018.
Percy Crutchfield retired as chief of police on August 31, leaving Captain Troy Roberson as the police department’s interim chief.
In October, Town Manager Bryan Gruesbeck announced that Crutchfield would return to his position as police chief on October 26.
Efforts had previously been under way by town officials to fill the vacant chief position.
Crutchfield was not present at the October town board meeting when the town manager announced his return, and the board didn’t announce a reason for the his return.
Crutchfield has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement. He was hired as Pittsboro’s police chief in 2013 after former chief David Collins resigned.
Before serving as chief, Crutchfield worked for the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office since 2000, where he was an investigator and oversaw the narcotics investigations division as a lieutenant.
In 2018, Crutchfield launched a bid to become Chatham County sheriff, losing to incumbent Sheriff Mike Roberson in the Democratic primary in May.
A life-long resident of Pittsboro, Crutchfield took a position working from home with the state after retiring in August and before returning to the chief’s post.