By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The mayor and city council will host an Oath of Office ceremony and reception for Jerome “Jerry” Stokes on Monday to begin his position as the chief of police for Salisbury Police Department.

The drop-in reception will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and the Oath of Office will happen at 4 p.m. at City Hall at 217 S. Main St.

Stokes was named Salisbury’s new police chief at a City Council meeting on June 7. He was formally the deputy chief of the Lynchburg, Virginia, Police Department.

Stokes was with the Lynchburg Police Department for almost 32 years. He held many different positions in the department, including regional violent crime task force detective, street crimes suppression team leader and vice and narcotics investigations officer.

His most recent position had him responsible for the department’s police investigative and administrative functions and citywide emergency management operations while directly overseeing 50 officers and 12 civilian staff, according to a press release.

Interim Chief Brian Stallings has been leading Salisbury’s Police Department since former Chief Rory Collins retired in December of 2015.

According to City Manager Lane Bailey, Stokes was chosen from more than 50 applicants for the position.

The public is invited to attend.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.