Chief George Gillenwater began his career with the Rockingham Police Department in 2006, serving in various roles including the Patrol Division, Tactical Unit, and Narcotics Division. He eventually rose to the rank of Captain over the Criminal Investigations Division before being named Chief of Police in November 2021.
Chief Gillenwater has worked extensively with both State and Federal law enforcement agencies and has participated in several task force initiatives. He is a graduate of the FBI Command College and the North Carolina State University Law Enforcement Executive Program. In addition, he has earned both the Intermediate and Advanced Law Enforcement Certifications from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Organizational Development from Mount Olive College (2004) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Liberty University (2014).
A firm believer in the value of training and education, Chief Gillenwater prioritizes helping every officer obtain the necessary credentials to achieve their goals. He promotes a family-first environment and maintains an open-door policy, ensuring officers feel comfortable reaching out to him whenever needed.
"I believe in operating this department like a small family-owned business. It's important to me that I know each team member’s name, get to know their families, and ensure they feel comfortable reaching out—whether by call, text, or just stopping by. As a department, we are big enough to offer meaningful growth opportunities and have many of the same specialized divisions as our larger counterparts. But we’re also small enough that I can personally know each team member and understand what their individual goals are."
Chief Gillenwater is a strong proponent of community policing and actively encourages his officers to engage with the citizens of Rockingham. The Rockingham Police Department regularly participates in community events and hosts several opportunities throughout the year for residents to visit the department and connect with officers on a more personal level.
To stay informed about upcoming events and department initiatives, we invite you to follow us on our official social media channels.
Please feel free to reach out to Chief Gillenwater with any concerns or commendation by email at george@rockinghampd.gov.
