Hillsborough names acting police chief

David Trimmer, a 49-year-old commander within the Police Department will serve as the acting police chief when Clarence Birkhead steps down on April 2, said Hillsborough's town manager.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead the department through this transition period,” said Trimmer, who is currently commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. “Naturally, I am sorry to see Chief Birkhead go and I wish him the best in his campaign for sheriff. Working for him has been a tremendous learning experience for me.”

Trimmer said his main priority will be to continue providing citizens with the excellent service they have come to expect from their department, which has 32 employees and had a $2.4 million budget in Fiscal Year 2010.

Sgt. Scott Nicolaysen, an investigator with the department, will serve as acting commander of the Criminal Investigations Division during the transition.

“I’m very happy that Lt. Trimmer has agreed to serve as the acting chief of police,” Town Manager Eric Peterson said. “Lt. Trimmer is well respected by the officers and has a great deal of law enforcement experience. The town is extremely fortunate to have such an accomplished law enforcement professional who can step in on the first day and keep things running smoothly for the Police Department.”

Trimmer joined the Hillsborough Police Department in June 2006 as commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. He supervises the department’s investigators and narcotics officers and is the head firearms instructor for the department.

Trimmer started his law enforcement career in 1993 at Duke University Police, rising through the ranks there to lieutenant and serving in investigations and patrol.

Plans for selecting a new police chief are being developed. Replacing a department head position typically takes about six months. The process includes advertising the position, screening applicants, conducting interviews and performing background investigations.

Hillsborough police chief to resign

Head of the Hillsborough Police Department, Clarence Birkhead, will step down April 2 to focus on candidacy for sheriff of Orange County.



“I feel that I should devote all of my energies to my campaign. Under the circumstances, I feel it is best for the Town of Hillsborough and my campaign to step down," Birkhead stated in his resignation letter.

Birkhead has been Hillsborough’s police chief for almost five years.

Birkhead said: “During my tenure, the Police Department has markedly improved its service to our citizens. We have experienced successes in all areas of police service. I am confident that I leave the department in a strong position for continued success and excellent service under the leadership of my successor.”

Town Manager Eric Peterson hopes to name an interim chief by early next week.

“We are all thankful for the many improvements Chief Birkhead has made over the past five years to improve the quality of policing that’s been provided to Hillsborough’s citizens,” Peterson said.

The police department said that it would likely be six months before a new police chief is hired.