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Standing before city leaders, law enforcement officers and residents gathered inside the Greensboro City Council Chambers on May 12, newly sworn-in Greensboro Police Chief Kamran Afzal pledged to lead with transparency, accountability and a willingness to listen to the community he now serves.
Afzal officially took the oath of office during a ceremony marking the beginning of his tenure leading the Greensboro Police Department. The appointment comes after weeks of public debate surrounding the city’s police chief selection process, with community members criticizing the lack of public input before the final hiring decision was made.
Still, the tone Tuesday reflected cautious optimism from both city leaders and residents hoping to move forward together.
Afzal, who brings more than 30 years of law enforcement experience to Greensboro, acknowledged the importance of building trust with residents and said strong relationships between police and the community must remain a priority.
“We are here to serve you,” Afzal said. “Public safety is strongest when it is built on trust, and trust is built through relationships, transparency and consistency. I will take the time to listen, to learn and to understand this community before making decisions that impact.”
He also emphasized the need for accountability and collaboration, noting that public safety cannot be achieved by law enforcement alone.
During his remarks, Kamran Afzal reflected on his journey from Karachi, Pakistan, to becoming Greensboro’s police chief, while also acknowledging the city’s deep civil rights history and the opportunities created through those struggles.
“Without those moments, without that courage and commitment to justice, someone like me, an immigrant, a member of a minority community, a person of a different faith, may not have had the opportunity to stand before you in this role,” Afzal said. “That is not lost on me.”
Afzal, a native of Pakistan, came to the United States at age 15 and began his law enforcement career with the U.S. Capitol Police in 1991, according to the city. He later joined the Arlington County Police Department in 1993, where he served for 24 years and rose to the command staff. Most recently, Afzal served as police chief in Dayton, Ohio, a position he held since 2021 before accepting the role in Greensboro.
City leaders praised Afzal’s leadership experience and expressed hope that he can help strengthen relationships across Greensboro while guiding the department forward during a time when policing practices continue to face public scrutiny nationwide.
Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter said the swearing-in ceremony represented more than just a new appointment for the city.
“We are here because of the people of Greensboro, the people of Greensboro who care, who have concerns, but yet love their city,” Abuzuaiter said. “We have seen the love for our city, and we are thankful for all perspectives and all concerns.”
She noted that residents are looking to Afzal for leadership, transparency and accountability as he begins his tenure.
“Our city expects transparency and accountability. It expects fairness and respect for every resident and every neighborhood,” she said. “Today is also about opportunity. An opportunity to strengthen trust, an opportunity to build relationships and an opportunity to continue creating a department that reflects the very best of public service.”
She also acknowledged City Manager Nathaniel “Trey” Davis for his lead role in the hiring process, despite the criticisms from the community.
“I want to thank our city manager for conducting a thoughtful and deliberate process and for selecting a leader he believes is prepared to help move Greensboro forward. Leadership requires careful decisions. Today, we support this decision, and we support it with confidence and optimism about the future of our Police Department and the future of our city,” she said.
Davis was not in attendance but delivered remarks via a prerecorded video message, calling the swearing-in an important moment for the city.
“The role of police chief carries immense responsibility,” said Davis. “Leading with integrity, strengthening trust within our community, and ensuring the safety and well-being of all who live, work and visit here.”
He also emphasized the importance of transparency and collaboration between the Greensboro Police Department and the community moving forward.
“You step into this role at a time when collaboration, transparency and community partnership are more important than ever,” Davis said. “Public safety is a shared responsibility, and it takes strong leadership, dedicated officers and an engaged community to move forward together.”
While the swearing-in ceremony represented a new chapter for the department, it also highlighted the ongoing conversations surrounding policing and accountability in Greensboro.
Following the ceremony, a group of clergy members, activists and community residents gathered on the steps outside the Greensboro Police Department for a prayer vigil focused on healing, accountability and cooperation with the city’s new chief.
Those participating in the demonstration had previously voiced opposition to Afzal’s selection and criticized the city’s hiring process, arguing the community was promised greater involvement before a final decision was made. Those same concerns were also echoed by the Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission in a recommendation letter to Davis, calling on him to rescind the offer or, at a minimum, push back the start date.
However, speakers during Tuesday’s prayer gathering said they also wanted to publicly support the success of the new chief while continuing to advocate for reforms they believe are necessary to improve trust between police and residents.
Rev. Greg Drumwright, community activist and leader of Justice 4 The New Generation said the gathering was about both accountability and hope for a stronger relationship between police and the community moving forward.
“The issues that existed well before the search for a new chief had commenced, we wanted to take this opportunity to pray for our chief’s guidance, for his discernment, for his wisdom,” Drumwright said. “Not only him, but the chiefs, lieutenants, colonels and the officers of public safety that will work under his leadership.”
Drumwright acknowledged that many in the community still disagreed with the city’s hiring process and had concerns about policing practices, but said those differences should not prevent the community from supporting Afzal’s success and praying for positive change.
“We may not have agreed with the process that brought the chief here, and we may not have agreed with the data that preceded him and his leadership,” he said. “But we do agree that regardless of those stances, he deserves the opportunity to be covered in prayer. He deserves the opportunity for the Lord’s guidance and wisdom to be uplifted upon him.”
Drumwright said clergy members, organizers, elected officials and activists gathered peacefully outside police headquarters because they believe Greensboro can move toward a better future through transparency, fairness and collaboration.
“We’re here peacefully, non-adversarial,” he said. “But we’re here to move forward in the right direction.”
Prayers were offered for Afzal, police officers and the Greensboro community, with speakers calling for open communication and meaningful collaboration moving forward.
Community advocates also renewed calls for an end to regulatory traffic stops and urged city leaders to implement a written consent-to-search policy within the police department. Supporters of the policy say requiring written consent before vehicle searches would improve transparency and help strengthen community trust.
Gene Blackmon, community activist and owner of Prestige Barber College, thanked residents, clergy leaders, media members and organizers who have continued pushing for police reform discussions in Greensboro over the past several weeks.
“The work is not done,” Blackmon said. “We are still trying to end regulatory stops. We are still trying to make sure that we have certain things in place to police the police when there’s use of excessive force, and we want to make sure that there is written consent.”
Blackmon reminded the community that the gathering was not only about prayer and unity, but also about maintaining momentum around policy changes.
“These are the things that will ensure the safety of our community, and we must hold them accountable for putting those things in place,” he said. “After this prayer, there is additional work that has to be done.”
As Afzal begins his tenure, both supporters and critics land on at least one common point: the future of policing in Greensboro will depend heavily on whether trust can be strengthened between officers and the community they serve.
