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AHOSKIE – The Town of Ahoskie has a new interim manager and officials didn’t have to search very far to find the person for the job.

Michele Garrett has been named to lead Ahoskie local government while the mayor and the town council continue to search for a permanent manager.

Garrett, the town’s chief of police, will continue in that capacity while also handling the manager’s duties on an interim basis.

She was named the interim manager during an emergency meeting of the Ahoskie Town Council held Wednesday evening. Garrett begins that new role immediately.

“This doesn’t affect my role as the police chief; I’ll be working both jobs,” Garrett said just moments after accepting the town manager’s oath of office from Mayor Weyling White.

Garrett said she was approached about the possibility of accepting the interim manager’s position.

“I prayed about it and thought hard about it before reaching a decision,” she said. “I already have manager’s skills in my role as the chief of police, which is the largest department in the town.

“This town has been very good to me,” Garrett continued. “They came to me in their time of need and I saw this as a good opportunity to help my town and our citizens.”

Garrett stressed that she can handle both jobs.

“I know my plate will be full, but with the help of God I feel I can handle the work,” she stated. “I’m confident I can handle it and I feel blessed that our mayor and our town council have the confidence in me to handle both jobs.”

“We thank Chief Garrett for accepting the appointment of becoming our interim manager,” said Mayor White. “She has years of experience with the town and we are confident that she can continue to lead our police department and also fill the role as our interim manager.

“She is doing an awesome job as our chief of police and we want to utilize her experience and expertise in the role of interim manager,” White stated, adding that the town will continue to work with the North Carolina League of Municipalities in searching for a permanent manager.

Ahoskie has been without a permanent manager since Leigh Etheridge resigned in November of last year. That led to Ahoskie Town Clerk Jennifer Bracy being named as the Interim Acting Town Manager. She served in the dual capacity until her resignation this month.

Garrett, the town’s first-ever female chief of police, was first hired in September of 1990 as a part-time patrol officer in Ahoskie under then Chief Jake Willoughby. Garrett became a full time officer in March of 1991 and has spent her entire career with the Ahoskie Police.

She rose in rank with the APD, promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 1998; Patrol Lieutenant in 2004; Lieutenant Detective in 2007 and later the same year was named Captain of Criminal Investigations. In 2014 she shifted back over to the Patrol Division as their Captain.

She was named the town’s chief of police in December of last year.