Administration

Meet Our Chiefs:

Chief Alan Balog

Chief of Police, Alan Balog, is an 18-year veteran of law enforcement and became the Chief in June 2023. A City of Burlington native, he has previously served in supervisory roles within BPD, including, Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Professional Standards Divisions of the department, and was the Assistant Chief over the Operations Bureau. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Leadership and Administration from Arizona State University. Chief Balog is a graduate of the 74th Session of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and the 445th Session of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. Currently, outside of the department, he serves on the Board of Family Abuse Services of Alamance County, Alamance County Meals on Wheels, and is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum. He was the 2019 North Carolina Police Executive of the Year.

Chief Balog remains focused on the implementation of evidence-based policing to improve public safety and community trust in the Burlington Police Department, particularly through the prevention of violent crime and drug overdoses. 

Chief Balog is dedicated to full transparency, internal and external accountability, and community relationships.

Assistant Chief Chris Smith

Support Bureau

Assistant Chief Chris Smith has 27 years of experience with the Burlington Police Department. He has previously served in supervisory roles in Patrol, Criminal Investigations (Alamance Narcotics Enforcement Team), Community Relations, and K9 as he moved through the ranks from Sergeant to Captain. Smith was a co-developer of the county-wide Alamance Narcotics Enforcement Team (ANET) that is made up of officers from agencies across the county that work collaboratively to address narcotics enforcement. 

Assistant Chief Smith received a degree in Criminal Justice from Alamance Community College and graduated from NC State Administrative Officers Management Program's 86th session. He is also a graduate of the West Point Leadership Program from Methodist University.

Assistant Chief Nick Wright

Operations Bureau

Assistant Chief Nick Wright has 15 years of experience with the Burlington Police Department. He has previously served in supervisory roles in Patrol and Criminal Investigations. In addition to serving as a Motor Officer, Assistant Chief Wright is a Specialized Driving Instructor, and spent 12 years on the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, most recently leading the team as Commander.

Assistant Chief Wright received a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and graduated from NC State Administrative Officers Management Program's 94th session. In our community, he serves as a board member for Ralph Scott Life Services.