New police chief to take helm in Gastonia

  • 2020-09-04
Gastonia will have a new chief of police beginning next month.

Travis Brittain, a native of Gastonia, will be the 24th police chief of the city. Brittain is currently the assistant chief and will soon oversee 170 officers who will protect the 78,000 residents of the city. The department’s budget is over $20m.

Such important announcements are often made known throughout the community with poster printing.

Brittain began his career with the Gastonia police in 1989 as an Explorer while he was a student at Ashbrook High School. He started working in the department in 1994 and has been advancing in the ranks ever since. In 2004, he was made a sergeant, then he became captain, and by 2014 he was assistant chief. During his time in the department Brittain helped establish the Gaston Clergy and Citizens Coalition partnering with the faith-based community in the city, and he still serves on its Executive Board.

Brittain said that relationships are important and that people in the city should bring their concerns to the police department, where they will be heard. He added that having the trust of the public is paramount to being effective in the community.

Mayor Walker Reid said the Gastonia City Council fully supports the promotion of Brittain to police chief. Brittain will begin his role on Thursday, October 1 as the current chief, Robert Helton, retires.