BY MARK WINEKA AND JOHN PATTERSON
SALISBURY POST

The man tabbed as Salisbury’s next police chief has built a strong reputation in Hartsville, S.C., of getting the public involved – a nice fit with Salisbury’s recent emphasis on community policing.

Chris Herring, police chief in Hartsville since December 1995, appears to be the person who will lead the Salisbury Police Department, pending some final background checks.

If Salisbury City Manager Dave Treme is satisfied with those results, he’s expected to formally introduce Herring as the new chief next week, probably Wednesday. He would be Salisbury’s first black police chief.

Herring now oversees a 50-person department in Hartsville, a small town of roughly 9,100 people that’s home to Coker College.

Jackie Torok, an assistant metro editor for the Florence, S.C., Morning News who worked closely with Herring when she was the paper’s police reporter, praised Herring’s accomplishments in Hartsville, especially his concept of community policing.

‘‘He makes an effort to reach out to the person who lives down the street or in the neighborhoods,’’ Torok said. ‘‘He’s really into the community policing style.

‘‘He’d be a hell of a catch if you got him.’’

Torok said Herring’s department is considered one of the most progressive police departments in South Carolina.

On a personal level, Torok said Herring is a ‘‘very personable person and very outgoing. He’s also very outspoken in what he believes in.’’

Herring also has earned the respect of everyone he works with, she said.

‘‘Whatever somebody’s opinion may be of him, I don’t think you’re going to encounter anyone who doesn’t have respect for him, especially those in law enforcement,’’ she said.

To mobilize his community, Herring and his officers held 65 neighborhood meetings in 1997. His department established a Citizens Police Academy, a Junior Citizens Police Academy, a Police Youth Boot Camp and a community-based process for officer hiring and promotion.

Herring’s department became a finalist for the National League of Cities’ Excellence in Community Policing Award. Hartsville also became a National Civic League All-America City in part because community-oriented policing was one of three major initiatives submitted on its application.

Herring also has a strong teaching background in law enforcement.

As part of his decision process, Treme traveled to Hartsville and rode around the town with Herring in his police cruiser. Treme said this morning that Herring is by far the top candidate to emerge from 118 initial applicants to replace former Chief Jeff Jacobs, who resigned after 12 years last August.

David Belk has served as interim police chief during the search for a new head of the department.

The Citizens Police Academy in Hartsville aims at teaching residents how the police department works and it requires that a citizen ride along with an officer for 12 hours.