By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó In what was a short retirement, former Rowan County Sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Kluttz is now the China Grove Police Chief.
Kluttz will officially start Nov. 25, town officials said.
He retired from the Sheriff’s Office after 23 years. His last day was Oct. 30. Prior to the Sheriff’s Office, Kluttz worked for China Grove Police from 1979 until 1986.
The position had been vacant for several months following the firing of former chief Hodge Coffield.
China Grove aldermen chose Kluttz from 30 applicants for the job and instructed Town Manager Bill Pless at a closed session Monday to make an offer.
“I feel that the town council has made a good choice with offering Eddie the opportunity to be police chief,” said Mayor Don Bringle.
Kluttz is a native of China Grove.
“He and his family have served our community well. We look forward to Eddie’s leadership and ability to manage the department,” Bringle said.
Bringle said he is excited for Kluttz and knows Kluttz has experience working with other municipalities through his work with the sheriff’s office.
“We are truly blessed to be able to have the opportunity to have a gentleman of his caliber to be our police chief,” Bringle said.
Kluttz admitted it definitely was a short-lived retirement.
“China Grove is home. I did not want the opportunity to slip by me,” Kluttz said.
He said he wondered about what he’d do after retirement and decided it was to stay in law enforcement.
“I’m real excited about the opportunity to work around people I see everyday,” he said.
Town Manager Bill Pless said the town is confident Kluttz’s background and strong local ties will be a benefit to the department and the community.
“The town of China Grove is very pleased to have a veteran law enforcement professional like Eddie Kluttz willing to take a leadership role for our police department,” Pless said.
He said of the applications the town received, Kluttz had all the qualities they were looking for in a chief.