But Herring, who resigned from the chief’s position in Hartsville, S.C., to take Salisbury’s top policing job, is even more excited about May 17 – his first official day on the job here.

‘‘I’m looking forward to getting up there (Salisbury),’’ Herring said. ‘‘I’m excited about bringing some closure to the transition from the job here to my move to Salisbury.’’

Herring, who resigned from his Hartsville position on March 31, said the transition has been challenging and hectic so far.

‘‘I’m trying to make sure that business is properly transferred here (Hartsville), while at the same I’m eager to come to my new home,’’ he said. ‘‘Already I’m considering myself a Salisburian.’’

Herring said the people in Hartsville have told him they’re disappointed and concerned about his departure. Although the concern is there, Herring said he’s taken steps to make sure business will run smoothly in Hartsville after he leaves.

‘‘I have had a very personal relationship with the people of Hartsville,’’ he said. ‘‘They know me and I know them ... when I leave here the initiatives that have been put in place will stay in place.’’

Herring will make his first official public appearance Monday night at Livingstone College, where he’ll discuss community policing at the city’s fifth and final public education session of the Salisbury Vision 2020 plan. Bill Burgin, City Council member and chair of the 2020 plan, said ‘‘this will be an excellent opportunity for our citizens to hear about what neighborhood planning and community policing can do to sustain our neighborhoods.’’

The session, scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Tubman Theater at Livingstone, is open to the public and will also include a presentation by two architects – Michael O’Brien and Darrel Williams – and Chris Ogunrinde, a representative from Neighboring Concepts. Ogunrinde will present a discussion titled ‘‘Helping our communities reach their vision.’’

Herring will also meet with the Salisbury Police leadership team and as many other employees as possible Monday. He’ll also attend a reception in his honor at City Hall.

Those invited to the reception will include leaders from the city’s neighborhood revitalization areas, other city department heads, Vision 2020 Committee members and people who served as assessors during the interview process for a new chief.

Though near the end of the formal education portion of the 2020 project, city leaders are still looking for continued input from citizens. To remind citizens, leaders have labeled May as ‘‘Visioning Month,’’ during which there will be two meetings for the general public. The meetings are designed for people to tell what they do and do not want to see in Salisbury’s future.

The first meeting is May 4; the is May 25. Both are from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be held at the Salisbury Civic Center, which is located at 315 S. Boundary St.

The results of the two meetings are extremely important, Burgin said, because ‘‘they will become the vision statements for our Salisbury 2020 comprehensive plan.’’

Meanwhile, Herring said he’s looking forward to ‘‘coming home’’ to North Carolina, the state where his parents were born.

Herring, 38, is leaving a department with a total work force of 50 employees for the Salisbury department, which includes 76 sworn officers and 97 total employees.

Treme selected Herring from 118 initial applicants. Five finalists went through a two-day process (Feb. 28-March 1) in Salisbury that included assessments from four different panels, totaling 40 people. The final decision came down to City Manager David Treme.

Treme described Herring as someone who will nurture and develop his work force. Treme said Herring’s ability to challenge the men and women who work for him to do their best was a critical element in his decision.