Since joining the Clinton Police Department in 2005, Jesse Kittrell has steadily climbed the ranks and gained experience in many locations before becoming the city’s current assistant police chief.
A Keener native, Kittrell kicked off his career in law enforcement at the department after completing his Basic Law Enforcement Training at Sampson Community College. For over a decade, Kittrell stayed with Clinton PD until he decided to pursue a different opportunity.
“I started my career with the Clinton department and stayed here for about 13 years,” recalled Kittrell during a recent interview. “Then, I went to the North Carolina Justice Academy. It’s through the Department of Justice, but I was stationed in Salemburg.”
At the academy, Kittrell served as a school director, teaching specialized physical fitness instructor training classes. According to the academy, “This program aims to prepare physical fitness instructors to implement health and exercise programs and obtain certification for administering physical fitness instruction in the North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training Course.” Kittrell also taught various classes that teach various techniques to up-and-coming cadets.
“One of the things I taught, it’s now called Control and Compliance Techniques, but it used to be called Subject Control Arrest Techniques or SCAT,” he informed. “I was able to teach law enforcement officers from all over the state.”
After his time at the academy, Kittrell served as a lieutenant in the Fayetteville State University Police and Public Safety Department for a five-year period. Then, he decided to return to his roots, coming back to the Clinton Police Department in 2025 as a lieutenant. That December, he was promoted to assistant chief of the department.
However, law enforcement was never seen as a potential career choice until he attended college.
“As far as my career in law enforcement, I never really thought about it,” recalled Kittrell. “I started at Sampson Community College, just going to college. Then, I got approached by the school director at the time, who talked to me about joining law enforcement. After that, I just chose to go through basic law enforcement training and I stuck it out.”
Outside of the badge, Kittrell describes himself as a family man. Though his line of work can demand long days and hard nights, he spends whatever time he can with his wife and kids.
“I have a 16-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son,” said Kittrell. “Most of my time I give to them. They do activities, sports and events like that. When I’m not here, I’m with my family.”
As the assistant chief, Kittrell puts his team first, ensuring that they have what they need to become the best officers possible.
“I pride myself on the officers we have, on the men and women that work for our department,” Kittrell claimed. “I feel like it’s my job and my responsibility as their leader to make sure they come first. Their advancement and their growth within our department and the community is what come first to me.”
Because of this, Kittrell often stays out of the limelight, wanting the department’s officers to get the applause for a job well done.
“Sometimes, I think leaders and department heads feel like they should get the praise,” he attested. “I want my men and women to get the praise while I kind of stand in the shadows. They come first. The chief and I are trying to advance the department. We want the community to be safer. Part of that includes making sure our officers are taken care of.”