CFCC swears in first police chief

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Until today Dan Wilcox was the head of security at Cape Fear Community College. Now, he is the college’s first Chief of Police.

“This has been a life-long goal for me,” Wilcox said after he was sworn in.

Wilcox has 29 years of experience. He has worn many hats in the nearly three decades he’s been working in law enforcement. Some of those hats include a Highway Patrol officer, a volunteer firefighter, and a park ranger.

“I obviously didn’t let the grass grow under my feet waiting to get here,” he said.

CFCC currently relies on a third party security force to patrol the college.

“They’re unarmed. They can’t do anything except observe and report,” said Camellia Rice, Senior Vice President for Business & Institutional Services.

Wilcox says CFCC’s Police Department and the security force will work in conjunction with one another to maintain a safe learning environment.

“We are going to continue to work with them. They are going to stay on campus,” said Wilcox.

CFCC’s downtown campus is open, with people constantly walking around in it. Wilcox says that dynamic can be challenging.

“We don’t always know who they are and where they’re going, and we don’t know what their intent is while they are here,” he said.

Wilcox will oversee a lieutenant, a sergeant, and seven officers, and he hopes to have everyone in place by the start of the new year.

The new police department will be located on Walnut Street.