Ralph R. Hargrove was considered as the next Chief when J. Winder Bryan left to run the ABC Board in 1945. At the time, he had been with the Raleigh Police Department for 18 years -- as a patrolman, sergeant, and then first lieutenant. Initially, he had stated that he would refuse a nomination, but apparently changed his mind – he was named to be Chief by Public Safety Commissioner R.C. Powell in July of 1945 , and approved by the Civil Service Commission a month later.
Chief Hargrove attended the FBI National Academy in 1949, as part of the 40th session. In the fall of 1952, Chief Hargrove stepped down from his position as Chief, to be replaced by Chief Tom Davis, who had formerly served as Chief in Laurinburg, North Carolina. At an appreciation party held for him, he called on the department to “get behind [Chief Tom] Davis and give him your full support,” adding, “I am going to give him all my support.” He then became a Captain within the department, taking charge of the third shift. By 1956, he was in charge of equipment for the department. Captain Hargrove retired in May of 1964 with 37 years of service. Ralph Hargrove died on December 18, 1991. He was remembered as a generous man, with a good sense of humor.