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STONEVILLE — Mike James said goodbye Friday as chief of the Stoneville Police Department.

He resigned to become director of the newly formed county forensics bureau. He starts the job Monday.

A board that includes area law enforcement personnel and county commissioners unanimously selected James for the new job during a Nov. 6 meeting, said Amelia Dallas, chairwoman of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners and a board member. The board is overseeing the formation of the county’s Bureau of Forensic Services.

“I’m starting just from square one and building from there,” James said.

He said he sought the job in part because he’s always been intrigued by the role of forensics in law enforcement.

The Rockingham County District’s Attorney’s Office received a $525,000 grant from the Governor’s Crime Commission to establish the bureau. It will handle the collection of crime scene evidence, which will continue to be analyzed at the state lab.

The bureau is viewed as a vital resource to law enforcement in Rockingham County, where small police departments often don’t have the specially trained officers or equipment to handle crime scene investigations.

Two agents and an administrative assistant also will be hired for the bureau, James said.

James was Stoneville’s police chief for more than two years and took over during a time of turmoil for the department. He succeeded Gary Lawrence Walker, whom the town fired following allegations that he falsified time sheets.

“He’s done really well here and turned the whole attitude of the Stoneville Police Department around,” Town Administrator Kevin Baughn said of James.

James also has worked for the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison and Mayodan police departments.

James’ departure leaves two full-time officer positions vacant in Stoneville. The department’s 10 part-timers will help police the town until those positions are filled, James said. He plans to remain on staff as a part-time officer.

Baughn said he wants to fill the chief’s slot “as quick as possible.” He already has two applicants from within the department, Maj. Roger Hair and Franklin Moore.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com