Murphy – The town’s next police chief will have a few months to learn from his predecessors before officially taking the reins.
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Tim Lominac, a Cherokee County native with 28 years of experience in law enforcement, is expected to join Murphy’s police department in mid-September. He will take over the department’s top role once Police Chief Justin Jacobs exits later this year, following a 16-year stint leading the department. Jacobs is scheduled to become Cherokee County sheriff’s chief deputy in December, when assistant police chief Dustin Smith is expected to be sworn in as sheriff.
“I am very excited about getting started in this new role,” Lominac said. “I am looking forward to serving our town’s citizens, visitors and businesses. I will work hard to continue Chief Jacobs’ growth and success of the department.”
Lominac served as a law enforcement officer for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for more than two decades, where he obtained the rank of sergeant. He supervised daily operations in Graham, Jackson and Swain
counties.
“Mr. Lominac brings a wealth of law enforcement knowledge and experience to the Town of Murphy Police Department,” Town Manager Chad Simons said. “He is a strong leader and a good communicator.
“He will be able to establish and maintain rapport and trust among our officers and community members to effectively lead our police department. He will build on the progress Chief Jacobs and assistant chief Dustin Smith has made over the past decade.”
Lominac retired from wildlife resources in June 2020 and works part time with the Cherokee County sheriff’s office, handling basic training needs with firearms and in-service training required by the state. He knows his upcoming role will present a new challenge and new responsibilities, but he expects a smooth transition.
“I’m going to be surrounded by good people,” Lominac said. “Dustin and Justin ... are going to let me shadow them and get my feet grounded before they turn me loose with the department to head it all. I personally know Dustin and Justin well and have worked with them in the past in other capacities, so I look forward to working with them.”
Simons agreed that the overlap will make for a smoother transition for the department. The town manager said he will hold a meeting this week with Lominac and Jacobs to discuss the details of the process.
“It’s unique in that sense because we’ll have our future police chief working for us, but obviously we can’t swear in two separate police chiefs,” Simons said.
Lominac was among 14 total applicants for the position. Eight were brought in for the first round of interviews by a six-person panel that included Jacobs, Smith, Waynesville Police Chief David Adams, Murphy Fire Chief Al Lovingood, Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services Manager Jessica Mariano and Simons, who ultimately makes such hiring decisions for the town.
The field was narrowed to three candidates for the second round, and each made a presentation about community policing to Simons, Radford and town council member Barry McClure.
Simons said Lominac came out of the initial round ranked No. 1 and performed well in both rounds. Lominac responded well to questions about how he would transition from a career as a wildlife resources law enforcement officer to a town police chief.
“ ‘Law enforcement is law enforcement,’ was his response,” Simons said. “Does that mean that his learning curve will be steeper in certain areas than it would have been with other candidates? Perhaps, but with his intellect, emotional intelligence and experience, he’s so well-rounded.”
Lominac was named North Carolina’s Wildlife Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2006 after working what he said still stands as the biggest poaching investigation in state history. That case eventually led to nine people being charged with 150 wildlife violations and 47 drug violations, according to a 2006 article by Carolina Sportsman.
“That job has given me the opportunity to go from Murphy to Manteo, work-wise,” Lominac said. “I’ve been across the state. I enjoy working with the public and look forward to working with the citizens.”
Lominac is a graduate of Murphy High School and Tri-County Community College, later earning a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University. He obtained his advanced law enforcement certification in 2009 and became a certified firearms and physical fitness instructor, using the credentials to serve as a Basic Law Enforcement Training and In-Service Training Instructor for Southwestern Community College.
Lominac lives in Murphy with his wife, Shannon. They have two children, Cody – a junior at West Point Military Academy; and Caleb, a sophomore at Mars Hill University.
“I am thankful for the great leadership of Chief Jacobs and assistant chief Smith, and find comfort that the Town of Murphy will have a great working relationship with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office as Smith and Jacobs transition to their new leadership roles there as sheriff and chief deputy,” Mayor Tim Radford said. “I want to thank Town Manager Chad Simons for his time, research and dedication to locate a new chief of police.
“The Town of Murphy was fortunate to have extremely talented and qualified candidates apply for this position. I sincerely welcome Mr. Tim Lominac into Murphy Police Department, and I feel confident that the Town of Murphy is in good hands as he assumes the duties of chief of police.”