Like many young boys growing up in Beaufort County, Kit Campbell spent hours playing cops and robbers with his cousins. The youngster was also drawn to the exciting lives of the many policemen he saw on television.

But what ultimately drew Campbell to a career in law enforcement was the chance to serve the people of his community.

“I like helping people and making a difference in their community and making it a better place for my boys,” Campbell said in a recent interview with the Daily News. “I wanted to be the one who makes a difference.”

Earlier this month, Campbell was named Chief Deputy of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, succeeding Harry Meredith who retired after a 26-year career in law enforcement.

Campbell’s promotion was announced by Sheriff Alan Jordan who also announced the promotion of Kenneth Watson to the rank of major in the criminal investigations division, Dysoaneik Spellman to the rank of captain in the patrol division and Charlie Rose to the rank of lieutenant in the patrol division.

As Chief Deputy, Campbell oversees the day-to-day operations of the sheriff’s office and its 86 employees that include some 51 sworn officers. Campbell also serves as liaison between the sheriff’s office and the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners.

He is second in rank only to Jordan.

“We’ll always miss Chief Deputy Meredith. He put a lot of time helping develop up and coming leaders,” Jordan said in a recent interview with the Daily News. “But Chief Deputy Campbell has prepared himself thoroughly for the job.”

“He really has the heart of a servant,” Jordan said. “He enjoys helping folks in and outside of the sheriff’s department.”

Campbell has served in the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office for over 15 years.

He is a graduate of Washington High School. After working in the construction industry, he earned basic law enforcement training certification from Beaufort County Community College with the intention of serving as a reserve officer.

But while studying for his certification, his construction job ended and an opening developed for a full-time job in the sheriff’s office.

“The way it worked out, it was almost like it was meant to be,” he said.

While employed with the sheriff’s office, Campbell continued his studies, earning an associate’s degree in criminal justice from BCCC in 2002 and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mount Olive College in 2004 and certifications in various weaponry from Wilson Technical Community College, among other certifications.

Campbell has also earned an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate issued by the N.C.  Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission.

Campbell has received numerous awards and citations during his career including the National Life Saving Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 2008 for his rescue of four people including a woman suffering from dementia who had wandered away from home and became disoriented in the woods — a rescue he vividly recalls today.

Campbell is a member of the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, a member of Haw Branch Church of Christ in Chocowinity and a former member of the Washington Jaycees. In previous years, he headed the sheriff’s office participation in teams for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, its Toys for Tots collections and participation in local walks to raise money for Alzheimer’s disease research.

He and his wife, Crystal, have two sons, Cameron and Tyler.

In his spare time, Campbell enjoys hunting and fishing and home improvement projects.