Following a 32-year career Kannapolis Police Chief Terry Spry has received the state’s highest honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Kannapolis City Manager Wilmer Melton presented Terry with the honor earlier this week during a reception held in Spry’s honor.  

Terry is retiring from the Chief position on September 29.

Terry was appointed Chief in 2020 and he has led a department, that is one of only 6% percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide, who are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The department has 131 officers and staff.

“I really have been blessed to have a career I love in the City where I grew up. It has never been just a job. It has been a privilege to serve the residents of Kannapolis and that is what I will miss the most – the people I work with every day and the people in our community. It is an honor to receive the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and I will treasure it,” commented Spry.

During his tenure he has focused on building strong community relationships with children and adults to prevent crime. He is one of the founding members of BRIDGE (Building Relationships through Intentional Dialogue, Grace and Empathy). This group of area pastors meets monthly with Terry and other City leaders to sponsor community dialogues on topics such as community policing, education, housing and more. He has led the department’s efforts to host school supply drives, a children’s coloring contest, fundraisers for those in need and other events that lead to strong relationships with the residents of Kannapolis.

Chief Spry joined the Kannapolis Police Department in 1994. He worked in all areas of the department including patrol officer, traffic officer, criminal investigator, and patrol supervisor. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2004, Lieutenant in 2010 and Captain in 2015.

Chief Spry has received several honors including the South Rowan Optimist Club Officer of the Year, Co-Recipient of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Officer of the Year, the Roger Dale Carter Memorial Award, Royal Oaks Optimist Club Officer of the Year, and a Felony Investigations Unit Commendation.

He is a graduate of South Rowan High School, attended Pfeiffer College and earned an Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice Technology from Rowan Cabarrus Community College. He also holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

He is married to Meredith, and they have one son, Kaleb, and a grandson. They attend Trinity Lutheran Church.