Kamran Afzal Named as New Greensboro Police Chief

GREENSBORO, NC (March 31, 2026) – After conducting a competitive, national search and extensive interview process, Greensboro City Manager Nathaniel “Trey” Davis has selected Kamran Afzal as the City’s next Police Chief. Afzal succeeds John Thompson who retired in February 2026.

Afzal began his law enforcement career with the U.S. Capitol Police in 1991 and later joined the Arlington County Police Department in 1993.  He spent 24 years with Arlington County, 12 of those as a member of their Command Staff.  He oversaw Community Policing, Special Operations, and Human Resources – Support Management.  Afzal spearheaded the operation of Personnel and Recruiting, Career Development, and the Training Unit and managed projects ranging from a collective effort to reduce the impact of sexual abuse against children, implementing a traffic safety red light photo enforcement program, acquisition and launch of in-car cameras, and grant management.

In 2017, Afzal was chosen to head the Durango Police Department in Colorado, a position he held until December 2018.

In January 2019, he began serving as Chief of the Hopewell, Virginia Police Department. There he prioritized input from internal and external stakeholders by making it part of department policy.  Chief Afzal also made transparency with the community a priority by working with residents and stakeholders to have input with internal policy and procedures. In December 2021, he became the Director and Chief of Police of Dayton Ohio’s Police Department.

Afzal has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from George Mason University in Virginia and a Master of Public Administration, with a concentration in Criminal Justice, from Troy University in Alabama.  He is a Certified Public Manager and attended the Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI National Academy, and the Professional Executive Leadership School.

Afzal is married and has two children.  He previously served on numerous boards for educational, community, and social justice organizations. 

Afzal will begin his duties as Police Chief on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.