Rock Hill’s Gregory to retire, marks 40 years in Law Enforcement

After nearly 40 years in law enforcement, Rock Hill Police Chief John Gregory announced his retirement today in his ninth year as chief of the agency. Gregory, now 57, spent the first 30 years of his career in North Carolina before coming to Rock Hill in 2003.

He says one of the things he’s most proud of is the Compstat strategy, which he calls a unique approach to fighting crime.

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Gregory says that when he came to Rock Hill in 2003, he faced a number of challenges.

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In his years as chief, Gregory the city’s violent crime rate has dropped by 42 percent and the Weed and Seed Initiative has taken federal funding towards fighting crime in five specific neighborhoods  leading to a 50 percent drop in calls for service and a 27 percent drop in violent crime over a five-year span.

City Manager David Vehaun said Monday Gregory’s attitude was always focused on making life better for the citizens of Rock Hill.

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Vehaun says the search for Gregory’s replacement will get underway shortly and he expects it will include several qualified internal candidates.

Gregory took over the department in June 2003 following the retirement of Dave Fortson. Before moving to Rock Hill, Gregory was an assistant chief of police in High Point, N.C.