Police Department

The Selma Police Department is committed to fairness, compassion, and excellence while providing police services in accordance with the law and remaining sensitive to the priorities and needs of the community.

Police Chief

Justin Vause

Justin Vause
Police Chief
jvause@selma-nc.com

Jeffrey Bass
Major
jbass@selma-nc.com

Terri West
Police Records Specialist
twest@selma-nc.com

Jimmy Norris
Animal Control Officer (Part Time)
(919) 965-8189

animal-control@selma-nc.com

Selma Police Department

Police-department@selma-nc.com

1200 S. Pollock Street
Selma, NC 27576
(919) 965-8189

Major

Jeffrey Bass

Message from the Chief:

As Chief of Police, it is both an honor and a responsibility to serve the citizens of Selma during a time of growth, change, and opportunity. Our community is expanding, and with that growth comes an increased responsibility to ensure that public safety remains strong, trusted, and responsive to the needs of every resident, business, and family we serve.

The Selma Police Department is unwavering in our dedication to protecting life and serving our community with fairness, compassion, excellence, and equality. These are not just words—they are the foundation of who we are and the standard by which we hold ourselves accountable every day.

We are committed to delivering professional, lawful, and unbiased policing. Fairness guides our decisions. Equality ensures that every person is treated with dignity and respect. Compassion reminds us of the human side of our profession, especially in times of crisis. Excellence drives us to continually improve, adapt, and provide the highest level of service to a growing and evolving community.

Our mission extends beyond enforcement. We are here to safeguard families, build meaningful partnerships, and earn the trust of those we serve through transparency, accountability, and consistent action. We recognize that trust is not given—it is earned through our conduct, our integrity, and our commitment to doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

As your Police Chief, I am committed to building a modern, professional police department that is equipped, trained, and prepared to meet today’s challenges while planning for the future. This includes investing in our personnel, strengthening recruitment and retention, modernizing our tools and technology, and ensuring our officers are supported, well-trained, and held to the highest standards of performance and accountability.

To the men and women of this department: you are entrusted with a great responsibility. Our community expects professionalism, integrity, and service above self. You will be supported, but you will also be held accountable to the values we stand for.

To our community: we are committed to working alongside you. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and together we will continue to build a safer, stronger Selma—one grounded in trust, respect, and mutual commitment.

It is my privilege to serve this community and to lead this department forward with purpose, integrity, and dedication.

Chief Justin R. Vause
Selma Police Department

Selma Police Department Core Values

The Selma Police Department believes that the protection of life and property is our highest priority.
The Selma Police Department will respect and protect the rights and dignity of all persons and conduct all citizen contact with courtesy and compassion, and consider ourselves as ambassadors for the Town of Selma.
The Selma Police Department will strive for excellence in its delivery of police services and will utilize training, technology, and innovation to achieve that goal.
The Selma Police Department recognizes its interdependent relationship with the community it serves and will remain sensitive to the community’s priorities and needs.
The Selma Police Department will enforce the law impartially throughout the community.
The Selma Police Department recognizes the individual worth of each of its members.

Community Services

Police Reports »

Divisions »

Animal Control »

Recruitment »

Police Reports

Whether you’re a driver wanting a copy of your accident report, an attorney or insurance agent searching for details of an accident on a report, or a reporter looking for information on a recent crash–you can view or ask for a copy of a report by coming to the Selma Police Department Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We’re located at 1200 S. Pollock Street in Selma, North Carolina. It’s important you know the date, time and report number if possible.

If you’d like more information or have questions about police reports, please contact the Selma Police Department at (919) 965-8189.

Divisions

Patrol

Patrol is the backbone of the Selma Police Department, serving as the primary response force for the community. This division consists of sworn officers who respond to calls for service received through the Johnston County Emergency Communications Center. Patrol operations are organized into four teams, with each team staffed by one sergeant and four officers to ensure consistent supervision, accountability, and effective service delivery.

In addition to responding to calls for service, patrol officers engage in proactive enforcement efforts, including traffic enforcement, crime prevention initiatives, directed patrols in high-crime areas, and community engagement to deter criminal activity and enhance public safety.

K-9 Unit

The K-9 Unit of the Selma Police Department consists of a trained handler and K-9 team assigned to a uniformed patrol function, operating specially marked police vehicle. In addition to general patrol duties, K-9 officers provide specialized services including building searches, suspect apprehension, evidence recovery, tracking, and narcotics detection. The K-9 Unit also plays an important role in community engagement, participating in public demonstrations and outreach efforts to educate and build positive relationships with community groups.

Criminal Investigation Division

The Investigative Division of the Selma Police Department is responsible for conducting investigations into major crimes, narcotics-related offenses, juvenile cases, and gang activity, along with the prevention of gang-related incidents. This division also leads criminal interdiction efforts aimed at disrupting illegal activity within the community. Members of the division work closely with local, state, and federal agencies to gather and share intelligence, strengthening collaborative efforts and enhancing the effectiveness of investigations and crime prevention strategies.

Administrative

The Administrative Services Division consists of Records, Professional Standards, Training, Recruitment, Career Development, Crime Prevention, Support Services, Evidence Management, Traffic Unit, Community Action Team, and Animal Control.

Crime Prevention Programs:

Young Citizen’s Police Academy

The Selma Police Department is providing a program designed to give teenagers, citizens, and business owners a chance to develop a positive understanding of what the Selma Police Department does by learning first-hand how it’s done. This innovative plan will be a collaboration between the teenagers, citizens, business owners, and police that will identify problems, generate community-oriented solutions, and build the kind of trust that will eliminate the “us & them” syndrome, thus creating a more unified community.

Classes for this free 7-week Academy will be held every Tuesday evening at the Selma Police Department on Pollock Street. The class will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m. The Police Department is offering this course once a year.

Ride Along Program

It is the policy of the Selma Police Department to encourage community interest and involvement in the law enforcement process and to allow reputable citizens and students to ride as passengers/observers in Selma Police Department vehicles for legitimate civic or educational purposes. Participation in the Ride-Along Program is limited to residents, employees and occasionally those who may apply for consideration for a special purpose, i.e., students, visiting law enforcement employees, and dignitaries.

Ride Along Release Form

Animal Control

Jimmy Norris is the Town of Selma’s animal control officer. He is a part-time employee who works only 20 hours a week. His normal schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. He can be contacted through 911 or at the Police Department (919) 965-8189, during his working hours. If you experience an animal-related issue at any other time, such as a vicious or rabid dog, call 911 and the dispatcher will contact a police officer or an on-call police officer with the Johnston County Animal Control Department.

All animals picked up by Selma or Johnston County Animal Control will be held for three (3) days at the Johnston County Animal Shelter in Smithfield before being adopted out or euthanized. If you choose to pick up your pet, there will be a charge of $25.00 payable to Johnston County before the animal is released.

To report a deceased animal that has been hit by a car or is located on a public street, please call Public Services at (919) 965-9841 ext. 1004 for removal.

Johnston County Animal Services

Physical Address: 115 Shelter Way, Smithfield, NC 27577

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1049, Smithfield, NC 27577

Phone: 919-934-8474
Fax: 919-934-0753

Email: animals@johnstonnc.com

Recruitment

Serving your community as a Law Enforcement Officer is a great responsibility and a great opportunity. Town of Selma Officers are held to a high standard and are proud of their roles in the community.

Available positions are posted at Town Hall (114 N. Raiford Street, Selma, NC) and on our Human Resources page. If you are interested in applying, please go to our Human Resources page to fill out the application and consider the following information that is specific to our Law Enforcement employment.

Quick Links

Employment Opportunities »

Johnston Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) »

Minimum Requirements:

Be a United States Citizen
Must be 20 years of age
Must not have been convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor
Must possess a valid North Carolina Driver’s license
Must possess a high school diploma or GED / preference given to college

Selection Process Requirements:

Must have knowledge of police methods, practices, procedures and the rules and regulations of a Police Department.
Must be able to: understand and carry out oral and written instructions; prepare clear and comprehensive reports; deal courteously, but firmly with the public; and analyze situations and adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action with regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances.
Must possess physical agility and endurance to perform assigned duties, and be able to develop skill in the use of firearms and operation of motor vehicles.
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school, supplemented by technical level courses in Law Enforcement or related field may be accepted.
Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Certification is required.

Benefits:

Police Officer (Grade 15) starting salary is $57,750.
Career development programs
Accrued paid vacation
Unlimited accumulation of sick leave
Employer paid major medical insurance with a family plan option
Employer co-payment prescription drug plan
Worker’s Compensation
Disability Insurance
Law Enforcement retirement fund
All uniforms, weapons, radios, body armor, and other equipment are furnished at no cost to the employee
5% employer contribution to 401K account
Annual merit pay increases and regular COLAs

The Town of Selma Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As we strive to maintain a diverse workforce, the Selma Police Department encourages all qualified persons to apply without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, age, religious affiliation, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.