He began his career as an officer with the Southport Police Department and spent nearly a decade with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked in almost all of the departments. Rockenbach says he does not plan to make any immediate changes to the Whiteville police department.

The finalists for the Raleigh police chief (L-R): Rico Boyce, deputy chief of administration for the Raleigh Police Department, Sonia J. Russell, commander of crime control strategies for the Detroit Police Department and Joshua Wallace, commander of the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism’s Criminal Network Group.

His wife, Betsy Arakawa, was also found dead in their New Mexico home.

Raleigh's next police chief will be someone who has spent their entire career at the Raleigh Police Department. Why it matters: Rico Boyce, RPD's current deputy chief, will immediately replace outgoing police chief Estella Patterson on March 1,

The Raleigh Police Department has a new leader with a familiar face. Rico Boyce was promoted Friday from deputy chief to chief of police. He has been on the force for 25 years.