Taylortown is looking for a new police chief.

At Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting of the Taylortown Town Council, Chief Damon Williams made the announcement that he is leaving in his report to the board.

"I know you have heard the rumors," the chief said. "This is my last report to the council. As of April 13 I will be moving to a similar position in another town."

Williams has accepted an offer from Maxton to assume command of the Maxton Police Department. Maxton is a bigger town with a larger force.

"The town has 11 full-time police officers," Williams said following the meeting. "I am going to miss Taylortown. I love Taylortown, but this offers a greater challenge at this point in my career."

It offers better pay as well, he admitted, but said the decision did not come easily. He feels safe in leaving knowing that the officers on the force he leaves behind are more than up to the job.

Williams joined the Taylortown force in 2005 and became the town's youngest chief when he accepted that position in 2007

After Williams announced his departure, councilman James Thompson (himself a Pinehurst law enforcement officer and Taylortown police commissioner) appointed the present patrol commander to serve as interim chief while the town goes through the required selection process to choose a successor to Williams.

“I'll ask Sgt. Scott to serve as our interim chief,” Thompson said.

Scott was a Command Sergeant Major in his last post before retiring from the Army and entering law enforcement.