Kannapolis Deputy Police Chief Daniel Wallace is retiring after serving the community for 24 years. Daniel was honored by Kannapolis Police Chief Terry Spry at the Kannapolis City Council Meeting. Daniel was presented with the Chief’s Award, his service weapon and badge during the occasion.

“Daniel has made tremendous contributions to our City and the Police Department during his tenure. He is the example of what sets us apart from other police departments. He is a dear friend who I will miss, and I thank him for his efforts and commitment to our department”, Chief Spry commented.

Daniel plans to spend his retirement in the classroom. He is joining the staff of A.L. Brown where he will teach criminal justice classes and serve as a football coach.

“I hope that people will remember my time here as a police officer for the relationships I have built in the community. I have felt like policing is my calling and my calling was to develop relationships with everyone in every neighborhood throughout the City. These relationships made my job as a police officer easier over the years,” Daniel said. Daniel is known for the time he has spent building relationships with children. Quietly and with no fanfare on numerous occasions he and his family would take in children who had no place to go, purchased their clothing, helped them with schoolwork, providing them with career and college mentoring and more. He has also donated Christmas gifts for families and more in our City.

“My family and I have always tried to find the need and fill the need. My mother was a single mom raising five boys, so I have been in many of the situations these kids have been in. I have wanted to be a positive role model for them no matter who they are,” he said. This same attitude was carried over at work where he has endeavored to be a positive influence with new police officers. “We are all human and we are all going to make mistakes, in school, at work or at home. My goal has been to help everyone by looking at these situations and saying how can we help; how can we make a difference or right the wrong by setting up our children in the community and our police officers for success.”

Daniel is a native of Rutherfordton, N.C. and he joined the U.S. Army when he graduated from high school. Following his stint in the service he decided to pursue a police officer career. It’s the family business – his father and brother were in law enforcement.

He joined the Kannapolis Police Department in 2000 after marrying his wife, Emily, who is from Kannapolis. During his career he has served as a patrol officer, DARE and School Resource Officer and Sergeant of the Community Services Unit. He was designated as a Master Police Officer in 2009, then promoted up the ranks to Deputy Police Chief in 2020. He has also served as team leader of the Honor Guard, been an instructor and member of the Special Response Team.

Over the years he has received many commendations including Safe Driving Awards (5-year, 10-year, 15-year and 20-year); a commendation for planning highly detailed training scenarios; and a Life Saving Award for rendering aid during an overdose situation. He has also received the department’s highest honor, the Roger Dale Carter Memorial Service Award and Cabarrus County’s highest honor the Robert Jackson Eury Memorial Award.

He and Emily, have three children, Anna (Nate), Emma, Luke and one grandchild. He is the son of the late Mike Wallace, Sr. and Martha Moore of Harris, N.C.