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Fayetteville Police Chief Resigns, Will Serve As Consultant

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FAYETTEVILLE — For months, Fayetteville Police Chief Ron Hansen has felt his job was in jeopardy. Late Monday night, the city manager announced the 16-year veteran is retiring, but he is not severing his ties to the department just yet.

City Manger Roger Stancil says it was a mutual agreement for Hansen to retire. While Stancil says he is satisfied with the chief's accomplishments, he would like to see the department move in a different direction.

"As we talk about changes in organization in the city as a whole, we need to be more customer focused in involving the community in decisions that effect them," Stancil says.

While on the force, Hansen reduced crime, fought for better pay and created programs for at-risk kids.In February, the former police chief told WRAL he was asked to leave because of deteriorating relationships. At that point, he was not ready to step down.

"There was an offer for a negotiated resignation, and that came as a total shock," Hansen said at that time.

Over the next four and a half years, he will stay on as a consultant and receive $207,000, the value of his health insurance and full retirement benefits.

While some city councilmembers will not miss the chief, councilman Mark Kendrick thinks Hansen made Fayetteville a better place to live.

"I'm disappointed he's retired," Kendrick says. "I think he's done a good job for our police department, and it's hard to find a chief that can excel in so many areas and Ron did that."

Major Philip Cannady will serve as interim chief. He has been in law enforcement for 27 years. Hansen was not in town on Tuesday.

A nationwide search will be conducted for the chief's replacement. The search could take up to eight months.

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