North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has named Robert E. Gaddy, Jr. ‘93, a deeply experienced law enforcement operator well-versed in community-based policing, as its new chief of police. His appointment was effective March 1, 2026.
Having led the NCCU Patrol Division for the past four years, Chief Gaddy became NCCU’s interim chief of police on December 8, 2025. As the NCCU chief of police, he will lead one of the premier police departments in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System and will be tasked with ensuring an even safer and more secure campus environment.
NCCU students, faculty, staff, community members and other stakeholders participated in an extensive and rigorous search process. Throughout those processes, Chief Gaddy demonstrated a strong commitment to NCCU and the community-based policing practices expected from NCCU police officers. He proposed plans to increase communications and positive interactions with all NCCU stakeholders, with emphasis on the students.
Chief Gaddy is a native of New Bern, NC, and is long-time member of the Eagle family, having earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from NCCU, and plans to complete his master’s degree in criminal justice this spring. He comes to the position with an extensive network and professional relationships, having served in the Durham Police Department (DPD) for 27 years, including as District 2 and District 3 Commander, and leadership roles in Special Operations, Criminal Investigations, the Selective Enforcement Team and several other specialty units. He retired from DPD as a captain in 2022.
He has held leadership roles with the Fraternal Order of Police (national and North Carolina), maintains membership in key law enforcement associations, and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Chief Gaddy is a recipient of the 2015 Mark Tucker Memorial Award for service and leadership.