New High Point police chief shares his vision for the department [Video]

High Point’s new police chief says his main priorities for the police department include staffing, technology and mental health. Curtis Cheeks III was named chief of police at the High Point Police Department on July 1. Cheeks has worked for HPPD for 21 years, serving in a variety of roles. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereCheeks says he first became fascinated with police work as a child. “I think every kid at some point is enamored with the lights and what they think the job is,” he said. After college, Cheeks says he held two grant-funded state jobs that both had their grants canceled within months of him starting. That’s when he talked to a friend working at HPPD.“I was talking to a buddy who worked here,” Cheeks said. “And he said, ‘I think you should come be a police officer. I think you’d be good …