Knightdale, N.C. — The town has hired Shawn Brown as its new police chief.

Brown comes to Knightdale from Farmington, Conn., where he was a police sergeant and former captain of the Avon Fire Department.  He has bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice from the University of New Haven.

“We had a number of qualified candidates, and it came down to who we thought was best for Knightdale at this time” Town Manager Gary McConkey said in a statement. “Shawn Brown stood out for his well-rounded experience in police, fire and emergency management operations.”

Six months ago, former chief Richard Pope resigned after he was charged with assault on a female in connection with a domestic dispute involving his estranged wife.