Donna Swicegood | .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | May 12, 2007

If Troutman’s new police chief thought just his family would watch as he took the oath of office Thursday night, he was wrong.

Matthew Selves stood in front of a full house at Troutman Town Hall, including a contingent of fellow law enforcement officers from several different agencies.

Mayor Elbert Richardson said that show of support spoke volumes about the man the town board chose to head its department.

“That shows he is highly thought of by his peers,” he said. “That says a lot.”

Selves is a former detective with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and was an officer with the Statesville Police Department.

ICSO deputies and detectives and others, including Statesville Police Department Chief Steve Hampton, Assistant Chief Tom Anderson, officers from the Mooresville Police Department and representatives of the district attorney’s office, filled the room at Thursday’s meeting.

Selves’ wife Leigha, along with daughters Eleanor and Elizabeth and son, Samuel, and his parents and in-laws were also at the ceremony.

Richardson said Selves was not among the 40 or so original applicants for the job that opened in October when former chief Eric Henderson resigned.

In late March, the town announced it planned to readvertise the position and start the selection process over again.

This time around, Selves applied for the job.

He met with Town Manager David Saleeby. “He was very impressed with him,” Richardson said.

Then Richardson and Saleeby had a lunch meeting with Selves. “When we got back in the car, I told (Saleeby), ‘I think we’ve found a winner,’ ” the mayor said.

Richardson said Selves is sharp and personable, which will be a great asset to Troutman now and as it grows.

Selves will command a force of seven full-time officers, with the town board approving hiring another officer at the Thursday meeting.

Selves said he was pleased with the show of support from others in the law enforcement community.

“It was a great turnout, and I really appreciate the support,” he said.

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