Police Department
The Kannapolis Police Department proudly serves the ever changing and growing City of Kannapolis. Fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the KPD works to ensure the safety and well-being of Kannapolis residents.
Mission Statement
The Kannapolis Police Department exists to serve all people within our jurisdiction with respect, fairness and dignity. We are committed to the prevention of crime and the protection of life and property; the preservation of peace, order and safety; the enforcement of laws and ordinances; and the safeguarding of constitutional guarantees.
The Kannapolis Police Department and the community envision a future in which all stakeholders work in partnership to achieve an improved state of economic well-being, an enhanced quality of life and a reduction of crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.
Brief Departmental History
The Kannapolis Police Department formed in 1909, was a one man department developed to serve a small mill village growing around the future textile giant Cannon Mills. Under special legislation, the department’s jurisdiction consisted of a one-mile radius around the town’s YMCA. The first officer and Chief of the department was Dan Talbert. One of Chief Talbert’s duties was to manually operate the town’s only stop and go signal. The signal was located in the middle of the intersection at First Street and Main Street. Chief Talbert stood on a cement slab and manually changed the signal between red and green.
On December 5, 1922 the Kannapolis Police Officers were officially sworn in as Cabarrus County Deputies. Under special legislation, the Kannapolis Police Department remained a separate department with a separate chief; however it operated under the control and jurisdiction of the Cabarrus County Sheriff. This special arrangement continued until Kannapolis was incorporated in 1984.
As Cannon Mills and the town grew, so did the police department. By the early thirties, the department had grown to four patrolmen and a chief. Each officer was paid a salary of $95 a month. Chief Ira T. Chapman and his men spent most of their time walking a beat. When they needed a patrol car, they used their own vehicles. Money for gas and oil was deducted from fines collected by the officers. This was the case until sometime in the late 1940s when the department received three patrol cars. The vehicles were equipped with a new two-way FM radio system. The system not only allowed them to talk with each other, it also connected them with the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Department and the State Highway Patrol. The transmitter for the new WUTR – FM radio system was located in the tower of the old Cabarrus County Court House in Concord. It was connected by wire to the control panel at the Kannapolis Police Department.
Patch History
Since its inception, the Kannapolis Police Department has used five patches. The first patch was adopted in the early 1950s. While the color and size varied over the years, the patch basically stayed the same until 1978. As part of a pretrial lawsuit settlement in 1978, the department was forced to place the words “Department of Cabarrus County Sheriff” on its patches, vehicles and even the front of the police department. This patch was used from 1978 until 1984 when the City was incorporated.
The third patch displaying the eagle was used until approximately 1992.
The fourth patch was developed using the City’s newly developed seal in the center. The corn, cotton and tobacco represent agriculture; the plant, the textile history of the City; the fisherman, recreational opportunities; the cannon, a tribute to the Cannon Mills Textile plant; the dogwood, the State flower and 1984, the year the City was incorporated.
The fifth, and current patch, was created by former Police Chief Paul Brown and has special meanings behind its design as well. The four stars represent the four core values of the Police Department, excellence, professionalism, integrity, and stewardship. The eagle is a carry-over from the first department patch following incorporation and the thin blue line represents the world-wide law enforcement community who are dedicated individuals and stand as our only line of defense between the criminal element and the rest of the law abiding society.
Emergency Phone Numbers
| Police | 911 | |
| Emergency | 911 | |
| Ambulance | 911 | |
| Fire | 911 |
Kannapolis Police Department Phone Numbers
| Non-emergency | 704-920-4000 | |
| Administration | 704-920-4010 | |
| Employment Opportunities | 704-920-4013 | |
| Criminal Investigations | 704-920-4001 | |
| Vice/Narcotics | 704-920-4002 | |
| Records | 704-920-4129 | |
| Community Service | 704-920-4026 | |
| Patrol Commander | 704-920-4012 | |
| Support Services Commander | 704-920-4015 | |
| Fax | 704-920-4005 | |
| Amplified Sound and Parade Permits | 704-920-4010 | |
| Pawn Broker and ABC Permits | 704-920-4009 |
Rowan/Cabarrus County Program Numbers
| CVAN Domestic Violence Program | 704-788-2826 | |
| Crisis Council Inc. | 704-985-1981 | |
| Rape Crisis Hotline - United Family Services | 704-721-0110 | |
| Crime Stoppers Cabarrus County | 704-932-7463 | |
| Crime Stoppers/Salisbury Rowan County | 866-639-5245 | |
| Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare | 800-939-5911 | |
| Cabarrus County Red Cross | 704-782-9022 | |
| Carolina Poison Center | 800-848-6946 |
Maps
Kannapolis Police Department Sector Map (PDF)
Kannapolis Police Department Jurisdictional Map (PDF)