Henderson Police Chief Barrow, District Attorney Waters Discuss Recent Homicides, Issues Facing Police Department
By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire
Henderson Police Chief Marcus W. Barrow and District Attorney Michael D. Waters, with the 9th Judicial District, recently spoke on-air with WIZS to provide updates on their respective offices and discuss the recent uptick in homicides in Vance County.
According to Barrow, the most recent homicide cases, which took place in two separate incidents on Harrell Street and Merriman Street in Henderson, are still part of an ongoing investigation.
The District Attorney’s Office has been involved in all of Henderson’s 2018 homicides, according to Waters, and often works in collaboration with the police department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and highway patrol to solve such cases.
“My office tries to get involved early in order for the cases to go to trial sooner,” said Waters.
The recent rise in homicides and the level of investigation such cases require makes the department’s personnel shortage that much more concerning. According to Barrow, the Henderson Police Department is currently down by 13 law enforcement agents – roughly 20 percent of the department’s workforce.
“What hurts the most is that we are losing experienced officers,” Barrow said. “We predicted this issue last year when I went before council and requested pay raises in an effort to right the ship and fix the issues.”
Barrow stated that he does not feel that the problem was handled quickly enough, resulting in officers taking higher paying jobs with better benefits in other towns.
Waters further explained that the shortage of personnel is not unique to Henderson and Vance County, but is currently a state-wide issue. “Most law enforcement agencies in the 9th District and all over North Carolina are looking to hire right now. There are shortages in police departments, FBI and in the highway patrol,” Waters said.
According to Waters, this shortage is due, in part, to a smaller pool of available certified law enforcement officers. “Fewer candidates available for law enforcement positions makes jobs more competitive,” said Waters.
Such staff reductions have necessitated a review of police department policies and priorities to determine how and when a call is handled. “If you have a larceny, for example, that occurs and the person has already left, you might receive a phone call [instead of a visit],” said Barrow. “Non-emergency calls may have to be put on the back burner.”
In addition to staff turnover, the police department is also short on available personnel when an officer is involved in a lengthy investigation.
“Police officers often get tied up in the investigation of cases and that is an additional drain on available personnel,” Waters said. “We need to be conscious of using officers’ time wisely in court.”
According to both Barrow and Waters, one way in which the public can assist the police department and help with the issue of crime in the community is to serve jury duty.
“Over the last year in Vance County, we have attempted to try cases and have run out of available jurors several times,” said Waters. “One thing people can do to help is to serve and participate when they receive their notice of jury duty.”
Barrow believes the current relationship between law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office benefits the community and helps solve cases faster. “What Mike Waters has created with the District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement in the 9th District is amazing and has greatly improved our relationship,” Barrows said.
Waters credits that collaboration with quick convictions, “This year we’ve tried two murder cases and gotten two convictions which we’re very proud of and demonstrates the hard work of the offices involved with those cases.”
In order to be successful, Barrow believes those interested in joining the police department should possess, “maturity, a love for the community, an interest in investigation, the ability to see cases through to their conclusion, a calm mind and a level head.”
A passion for the job and serving others also helps. “Law enforcement is a career where you have to love what you’re doing and stay the course,” said Barrow. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Henderson-Vance Black Leadership Caucus Sponsoring Local Candidates Forum 4-15-18
— submitted by Terry Garrison for the Henderson-Vance Black Leadership Caucus
A FORUM FOR VANCE COUNTY CANDIDATES WITH OPPOSITION FOR THE UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION WILL BE HELD SUNDAY, APRIL 15TH AT 4:00 PM AT THE ELKS LODGE, 326 W. ROCK SPRING STREET, HENDERSON. THE PUBLIC IS CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND. THE FORUM IS SPONSORED BY THE HENDERSON-VANCE BLACK LEADERSHIP CAUCUS.
4-7-18 Country Breakfast at North Henderson Baptist Church
— submitted by Catherine Abbott on behalf of North Henderson Baptist Church
Yard Sale, Bake Sale, Country Breakfast
North Henderson Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
Saturday, April 7, 2018, 7:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.
All Proceeds go to Relay for Life/American Cancer Society
Please submit your qualifying public service announcements online at https://wizs.com/psas/ and view our complete listings of local public service announcements as well at https://wizs.com/psas/
Teen In Need Found by HPD, K-9 Officer and Handler
HPD Press Release – Wednesday April 4, 2018
On April 3, 2018 around 10:30 p.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to a call of a missing 13 year old teenager. According to the grandmother, the teen has autism and this was the first time he had left the residence. She told officers the teen had become upset over a video game.
At this point the teen had been missing a short time, but the grandmother told officers the teen would need medication within the hour and if he did not receive the medication soon he would likely fall asleep. The grandmother told officers that he does like going to the store and that he loves trains. She feared that he may have gone to the railroad tracks nearby.
Officers concentrated on the immediate area and gave out a description of the teen in an attempt to locate. Other officers started the process of entering the teen as missing in NCIC and an AMBER alert.
The supervisor on scene discussed the use of the Department’s multipurpose K-9 unit to track the teen. Officers felt that if the teen was not located soon he could be in grave danger from missing his medication and the conditions.
A pillow was used as a scent article for the K-9 to start the track of the juvenile. The K-9 was deployed using short leash from the front of the teenager’s home. Officer searched several areas immediately around the residence and repeatedly called out for the teen. The K-9 handler advised that he had located the teen.
He was found approximately 30 feet from the rear of the residence in a thorn brush thicket in an area that officers and family members had already searched, where there was almost zero visibility.
The teen did receive injures from the K-9 and from the vegetation that he was hiding in and was treated medically for his injuries. The injuries sustained were unfortunate, but we are extremely relieved that he was located and returned to his loving family.
Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow
The Talleys Along With Tribute To Make Gospel Music Headlines On Saturday, April 7
— press release
Two All-Star Southern Gospel Groups Join Forces On McGregor Hall Stage
The Talleys Along With Tribute To Make Gospel Music Headlines On Saturday, April 7
HENDERSON, N.C. — One of the nation’s most beloved groups in Christian Music today, The Talleys, join forces with Tribute, one of the country’s most dynamic male quartets in Gospel music, for an all-star Southern Gospel concert. McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Henderson, N.C., will host this gathering of talent on April 7, the first Saturday following the Easter celebration.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 7 p.m.
“Having both these stellar Gospel groups come together to perform on the McGregor Hall stage is an honor,” said Mark Hopper, Vice President of the McGregor Hall Board of Directors. “The Talleys and Tribute are two of the biggest groups in Southern Gospel, and combined, this performance will be a newsmaker in the Southern Gospel world. ”
With an unmistakable style of progressive Southern Gospel, The Talleys have become one of the most beloved groups in Christian music today. Hallmarks of the “Talley sound” are their lush arrangements, close-knit harmonies and powerful vocals.
They’ve enjoyed 10 No.1 singles with two streaks of consecutive chart-toppers. Their most awarded, recognizable and requested songs include the hits Searchin’ The Healer, I Love The Lord and The Answer Is Christ. Their songs and recordings have received awards and nominations from the Dove Awards, Singing News Fan Awards, the Southern Gospel Music Guild Harmony Honors, Sheridan Gospel Network Music Awards and many more.
For this concert, The Talleys will perform with nationally known recording artist Tribute, which has become one of the country’s most dynamic and beloved male quartets in all of Gospel music. In an ever-changing musical climate, Tribute has remained steadfast in their goal to make great music that is both timely and relevant to the current musical scene and fan base.
Tickets are on sale for $25 or $22 plus sales tax and can be purchased directly at the McGregor Hall Box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson or by phone at (252) 598-0662. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.McGregorHall.org by using the secure and trusted purchasing platform, eTix.
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(This is not a paid advertisement. However, there are paid advertisements on WIZS Radio promoting this same event.)
Democratic Candidates for Sheriff Invited to 4-9-18 Watch Meeting
— submitted by Paul McKenzie
COMMUNITY WATCH MEETING ON 4/9
The next meeting of the Carver Community Watch group will be on Monday, 4/9/2018, 7 pm at Carver Elementary School. For our program, we have invited each of the Democratic candidates for Sheriff to to come and share a few words in advance of the May primary. The meeting is open to all. For more information, call 252-213-5986.
Please submit your public service announcement online at https://wizs.com/psas/