Longtime Town of Spruce Pine Chief of Police Bill Summerlin has retired after serving the Town for 29 years. Summerlin has served as Chief since 2015. Taking over his position is Kasey Cook. Cook graduated from Mitchell High School, attended Montreat College, and graduated from Mayland Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Officer’s Training program. He has worked for the Town of Spruce Pine for almost 19 years. He was promoted to detective in 2014, and promoted to captain in 2019. Cook is passionate about law enforcement, and is committed to serving and protecting the Spruce Pine community. He founded the Mitchell County “Shop with a Cop” program in 2008. The program was established to build positive relationships between police officers and the children of the community. The program has grown into an effort by all county law enforcement that provides Christmas gifts to area needy children and support to families.
