Kinston Police Chief Tim Dilday to retire

A little over a year after assuming the role of Chief of Police for the Kinston Police Department, Tim Dilday has submitted his resignation effective at the end of 2021. He has served on the KPD for more than a quarter of a century.

“I have notified the city manager of my intent to retire at the end of the 2021 year,” said Dilday.

Kinston city manager Tony Sears knows Dilday will be missed by the Kinston community.

“Chief Dilday has been a remarkable police officer and leader of the Kinston Police Department,” said Sears. “It is rare to find an individual who has spent their entire career in one community. I know that he has strong emotions for this City and its people and his presence will be missed.”

Dilday began his career with the KPD in 1994 as a college intern and served as the Interim Police Chief from September 2019 to February 2020. He’s also served as a Field Training Officer, Narcotics Detective, Special Response Unit, General Investigations, and Crisis/Hostage Negotiator.

“The city of Kinston has been great for me, and I’m nothing but a champion of the city,” said Dilday.

Dilday graduated from East Carolina University in 1994. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. After working as an intern, he joined the KPD as a patrol officer and says he’s a uniform patrol officer at heart.

“It’s been my life’s work to serve the city of Kinston,” said Dilday. “It’s something that’s very dear to me.”

Dilday chose to retire to allow him time to do other things. He believes that the officers of KPD today are the best trained, most well equipped, and most diverse group of officers ever to wear Kinston Police uniforms. A fact he’s very proud of.

“When I got to the Kinston Police Department, I was home,” said Dilday. “It did not take me very long to figure out that this was for me. Local law enforcement is more than a job, it's a career. Especially for a man or woman who is from Kinston.”

He’s proud of the work he’s done and looks forward to the next phase of his life. 

“My goal is to be able to look back and say hey we’re in a good place. The police department is in a good place and the city is in a good place. Time to find the next right person for the job,” said Dilday.