ABOUT MICHAEL YANIERO

Leadership. Service. Commitment to Community.

Michael Yaniero is a lifelong public servant, dedicated leader, and proud Jacksonville resident with over 50 years of experience in public safety. From his early days as a paramedic in 1975 to his decades in law enforcement leadership, Michael has committed his life to protecting and improving the lives of others.

In 2004, Michael began his service as Jacksonville’s Chief of Police and was later named the city’s first Public Safety Director in 2012. Under his leadership, Jacksonville earned recognition for forward-thinking community policing strategies, youth outreach, and public engagement. He retired from the Jacksonville Police Department in 2025, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, innovation, and trust.

Before coming to Jacksonville, Michael served as Deputy Chief of Police in Bristol, Tennessee, and throughout his career, he has earned numerous honors, including:

• FBI Director’s Community Policing Award
   
• Attorney General’s Dogwood Award
   
• R. Davenport Award for addressing Domestic Violence
   
• CALEA Egon Bittner Award
   
• The Order of the Long Leaf Pine
   
• 2012 Jacksonville-Onslow Man of the Year
   
• North Carolina Chiefs of Police Association Lifetime Achievement Award
   
• Rotary Paul Harris Fellow
   

Beyond his professional service, Michael is deeply engaged in the Jacksonville community. He is a Past President of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police, currently serves on the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission, and has been an active member of the Onslow County Partnership for Children Board since 2012. He also serves on the Rotary Club of Jacksonville (Past President) and the YMCA Board (since 2018).

Michael believes local government should be responsive, transparent, and focused on the real needs of residents—from public safety and economic development to support for military families and smart, sustainable growth. With strong values and deep roots in the community, Michael Yaniero is ready to continue serving Jacksonville in a new way—on City Council.

Michael Yaniero brings:

• A lifetime of leadership in public service
   
• A proven track record of community impact
   
• A clear, actionable vision for a safer, stronger, and more vibrant Jacksonville
   

Michael Yaniero is ready to listen, to lead, and to serve.

Together, we can shape Jacksonville’s future—one thoughtful decision at a time.