Two longtime Kannapolis Police officers are stepping into retirement after nearly 30 years of service. The City of Kannapolis is celebrating their contributions to community safety, marking an important moment in the department’s history.

In the years following September 11, 2001, police departments across the United States developed a more militarized persona, seen in both appearance and behavior. Now, some observers wonder if communities could soon see the return of local, neighborhood-style policing.