BALD HEAD ISLAND — Bald Head Island Public Safety Director Carl Pearson has stepped down from his role leading the Village’s combined police, fire, water rescue, and EMS department.
A long-time Village employee, Pearson has served as Department of Public Safety Director since being appointed as interim in August 2016. Pearson submitted his notice of resignation and resigned on the same day, Feb. 11.
He began his career on Bald Head Island 14 years ago in June 2005 as a public safety officer, according to his Linkedin profile. He entered the role of Public Safety Director after the previous director, Caroline Mitchell, resigned after three years.
Mitchell’s resignation came as a contentious legal case surrounding her and former Manager Calvin Peck’s 2014 firing of five officers over private text messages. Both district and appellate courts ruled in favor of the officers in a wrongful termination suit. Some aspects of the case still linger, with Village Council continuing to meet in closed session to discuss it in December.
According to Village spokesperson Carin Faulkner, Pearson has moved on to retired life. It is not immediately clear who will serve as interim.
