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A new chief, a new station and a growing police force, Belhaven Police Department has undergone significant changes in less than a year. 

The transformation process began in April of 2024 when the Town of Belhaven announced that Wesley Waters would be the next Chief of Police. A former captain at Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Waters replaced Chris Kelly who became a school resource officer with the same sheriff’s office. 

Next, the Belhaven Police Department moved out of a historic caboose and into a portion of the Wilkinson Center (144 W. Main Street). The lefthand side of the Wilkinson Center was repurposed into an estimated 3,500-square-foot police station that houses administrative offices, a conference room, an interview room, space for evidence collection and more. The department officially moved into the space on Dec. 1, 2024. 

This space is currently occupied by five employees and Waters. Waters hopes to add four new positions. According to a newsletter published by the Belhaven Community Chamber of Commerce, there is an opening for a lieutenant, police officer (full-time), police officer (part-time) and administrative assistant. 

Current and newly hired officers are tasked with responding to an average of 60 calls for service per month, Waters shared. (Belhaven Police Department receives help from Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office when needed.)

Waters’ mission for the department is to build strong relationships with Belhaven residents and business owners. “I have made it the department’s mission to build strong relationships with the community and the businesses that we serve. We don’t want to be a police department that just waves at people. We get out and talk with our residents and our business owners,” he said. 

The department, he said, can achieve this by getting involved in the community by hosting and participating in local events. For example, in December, the police department decorated a Christmas tree for the annual Festival of Trees contest hosted by Arts on the Pungo. The department also plans to continue hosting National Night Outs in Belhaven and participate in career days at local schools. 

Attending those events are people who have known Waters since he was a child. A native of Belhaven, Waters started his career in law enforcement with Belhaven Police Department in 2003. He worked there for the next five years then worked for Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office for 15 years before returning to the police department.

“It is a privilege and honor to have the ability to come back and serve my hometown as the police chief,” Water said.