For the fourth time in the past 10 years, Greensboro is looking for a new police chief, and for the fourth time in a row, the city has hired the same company to help find a replacement. That company is Chapel Hill based Developmental Associates and their services in conducting a national talent search don’t come cheap. But here’s the rub. Every time Greensboro calls on Developmental Associates to search far and wide for a new police chief, the city ends up tapping someone from within the GPD’s own ranks to lead the department. Wayne Scott was chosen for the top spot in 2015, Brian James in 2020, and John Thompson in 2022, and all three were long-time GPD veterans. I happen to have agreed with those hiring decisions, but we didn’t need to pay a search firm to tell us what we already knew.
So here we go again. Chief John Thompson is retiring, and Developmental Associates is going to collect a huge fee for conducting a national search for his successor. That would be OK with me if Thompson had fostered an atmosphere of corruption or discontent within the GPD, necessitating that the city seek new leadership from the outside. But Thompson has been an exemplary chief who nurtured effective leadership skills in those under his command, including Stephanie Mardis.
Mardis joined the GPD 24 years ago and was promoted to assistant chief in 2023. I first met Stephanie when she appeared on my Triad Today show back in March 2024, and it only took me a few minutes to realize that she would one day make a fine chief of police. What follows are excerpts from our conversation.
JL: Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in law enforcement?
SM: My father was one of the first African American police officers in Tampa, Fla., and my mom was a nurse at the Hillsborough County jail. I originally wanted to pursue a career in medicine, so I was a biology/chemistry major at Bennett College. I think the foundation of growing up in a family of public servants was a good role model, so I knew I wanted to do something impactful once I graduated. That’s when I decided to apply to the Greensboro Police Department, and I’ve been here since 2002.
JL: Not long ago we went through civil unrest following the George Floyd tragedy, and police departments across the country saw a decline in folks wanting to go into law enforcement. How are things now?
SM: We have made progress with our recruiting and retention. We recently had 36 recruits attend our academy, and of those 36, 27% were female.
JL: Is that related to the “30 by 30” pledge?
SM: Yes. Law enforcement agencies across the nation are striving to have 30% of their force comprised of women by the year 2030. Right now, the Greensboro Police Department is above the national average, which is 12% female. We’re already at 20%.
JL: Why is that initiative so important?
SM: Representation matters in every aspect of society, and it shows progress when you have a law enforcement agency that is a reflection of the community it serves. Greensboro is a vibrant culture with rich history, so it fosters trust and partnership when we have a police department that actually reflects the population.
As I said, Stephanie Mardis will make a great chief of police someday. As far as I’m concerned, that day has come.
February 17, 2026 @ 4:24 pm
GPD Should Promote From Within (Again)
For the fourth time in the past 10 years, Greensboro is looking for a new police chief, and for the fourth time in a row, the city has hired the same company to help find a replacement. That company is Chapel Hill based Developmental Associates and their services in conducting a national talent search don’t come cheap. But here’s the rub. Every time Greensboro calls on Developmental Associates to search far and wide for a new police chief, the city ends up tapping someone from within the GPD’s own ranks to lead the department. Wayne Scott was chosen for the top spot in 2015, Brian James in 2020, and John Thompson in 2022, and all three were long-time GPD veterans. I happen to have agreed with those hiring decisions, but we didn’t need to pay a search firm to tell us what we already knew.
So here we go again. Chief John Thompson is retiring, and Developmental Associates is going to collect a huge fee for conducting a national search for his successor. That would be OK with me if Thompson had fostered an atmosphere of corruption or discontent within the GPD, necessitating that the city seek new leadership from the outside. But Thompson has been an exemplary chief who nurtured effective leadership skills in those under his command, including Stephanie Mardis.
Mardis joined the GPD 24 years ago and was promoted to assistant chief in 2023. I first met Stephanie when she appeared on my Triad Today show back in March 2024, and it only took me a few minutes to realize that she would one day make a fine chief of police. What follows are excerpts from our conversation.
As I said, Stephanie Mardis will make a great chief of police someday. As far as I’m concerned, that day has come.