Morrisville Police Commission approves hire, names presiding officer and renames captain position

The Morrisville Police Commission voted March 19 to approve three personnel-related actions: hiring Brianna Ferrell to fill an open officer position, appointing Christopher Poppet as the commission's presiding officer, and substituting the title "assistant chief" for "captain" throughout the department's Standard Operating Procedures.

The chair of the commission opened the meeting with an introduction of the newly appointed police commissioner, Ted Bauer, and moved quickly through routine business before turning to personnel matters. "We have our new police commissioner, Ted Bauer," the chair said when introducing the appointment. The commission first approved outstanding October minutes by voice vote.

Why it matters: The hiring and SOP edits affect department leadership and staffing. Commissioners said the hiring decision will let the department fill an open roster spot quickly and that the SOP language change is intended as a title clarification only, with no change to pay or duties.

Hiring approved: The chief told the commission he had a candidate for the department's open slot: "Her name's Brianna Ferrell," he said, noting she currently works in Hampton, Virginia, graduated from Mooresville High School and has passed required checks. Commissioners discussed whether a separate interview was practical given the candidate's relocation timeline and the need for a two-week notice period; they agreed to rely on the chief's recommendation and voted to approve the hire. The chief said swearing-in was targeted before the commission's April 16 meeting.

Presiding officer: Commissioners discussed formally designating a presiding officer to handle scheduling and emergency meeting logistics between full commission meetings. Christopher Poppet was nominated for the role; the nomination was seconded and approved by voice vote.

SOP title change: The chief proposed replacing references to "captain" with "assistant chief" in the SOP manual to clarify the second-in-command role. Commissioners and a staff member discussed whether that change would require broader town approvals; the meeting's legal/staff advisor recommended a simple motion to substitute the wording in the SOP manual. Commissioners voted to make the substitution; members emphasized the change was a title edit only and that any salary changes remain the town council's authority.

Votes at a glance: October minutes ' Motion to approve accepted by voice vote. Presiding officer ' Christopher Poppet nominated, seconded and approved by voice vote. Hiring ' Motion to approve hiring Brianna Ferrell made, seconded and approved by voice vote. SOP change ' Motion to substitute "assistant chief" for "captain" in SOP manual made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

What's next: The chief said he expects to swear in the new hire once relocation and paperwork are complete; the commission's next meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. The commission did not schedule additional public hearings on these items at this meeting.