Chief Ayers began his career with the Wytheville Department of Public Safety in December of 1974 as a Patrol Officer. He received his AAS in Police Science from Wytheville Community College in December 1980. He is also a graduate of the University of Richmond Police Executive Leadership School. Since then he has advanced through the ranks to which he is now the Chief. He is responsible for the day to day administrative operation of the Department. In the past 28 years, Chief Ayers says the Department has come a long way from being a small town police department with only two cars and two portable radios to the modern day department with equipment, communications and training for all the officers. He also feels that these qualities produce officers that are better trained, know the procedures, codes and ordinances much better, and exhibit more professionalism.