Tag Archive for: #hendersonpolice

Continuation of Operation “Drop The Mike” Since January Nets 76 Felony Charges

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— from Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On Tuesday, June 9, 2026 members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics/VICE Unit, Henderson Police Narcotics Unit, Wake Forest Police Narcotics Unit, and agents from the North Carolina SBI and members of the FBI Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force served outstanding indictments and arrest warrants on numerous individuals steaming from the continuation of Operation “Drop The Mike.” This operation began in January 2026 when members targeted individuals selling and trafficking illegal narcotics in Henderson and Vance County to include Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Heroin, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana. Approximately 20 controlled purchases of narcotics and seven search warrants were executed resulting in the seizure of large amounts of illegal narcotics. Fourteen Henderson residents were charged during this operation. Other arrests are likely and pending in this operation.

Seized during the operation since January 2026

  • Heroin – 33,925 Dosage Units, Methamphetamine – 3,518 grams, Fentanyl – 1,109 grams
  • Crack Cocaine – 14 grams, Marijuana – 991 grams, Firearms – 11, Felony Charges – 76

Operation “Drop the Mike” is a direct example of how local, state and federal partnerships are working in the Vance County area to combat dangerous narcotics being sold and trafficked in the county. A special thanks to District Attorney Michael D. Waters office who assisted in this operation.

Defendants

Omir Gibbs

(10) Trafficking Methamphetamine

(5) Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling for Controlled Substances

(1) Exposing Children to a Controlled Substance, (1) PWISD Schedule II Controlled Substance

(3) PWIMSD Methamphetamine, (1) Possession of a Machine Gun

(1) Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, (4) PWIMSD Heroin

(4) Sell/Deliver Heroin, (1) Sell/Deliver Methamphetamine

Michael Miles

(2) Trafficking Methamphetamine, (4) Trafficking Opium/Heroin, (2) Trafficking Fentanyl

(1) PWIMSD Methamphetamine, (1) PWIMSD Heroin, (1) PWIMSD Fentanyl

(1) PWIMSD Marijuana, (1) PWIMSD Schedule I Controlled Substance

(1) Felony Possession of Marijuana, (1) Possession of a Stolen Firearm

(1) Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon, (1) Possession of a Stolen Firearm

Lee Adams

(2) Trafficking Methamphetamine, (4) Trafficking Opium/Heroin, (2) Trafficking Fentanyl

(1) PWIMSD Methamphetamine, (1) PWIMSD Heroin, (1) PWIMSD Fentanyl

(1) PWIMSD Marijuana, (1) PWIMSD Schedule I Controlled Substance

(1) Felony Possession of Marijuana, (1) Possession of a Stolen Firearm

(1) Possession of a Stolen Firearm

Sandtonio Knott

(2) Trafficking Methamphetamine, (1) PWIMSD Methamphetamine, (2) Trafficking Heroin

(1) Felony Possession Methamphetamine, (1) Felony possession of Heroin

(1) PWIMSD Heroin, (1) Felony possession of Fentanyl, (1) Conspire to sell/deliver Heroin

(1) Conspire to sell Methamphetamine, (1) Possession of Marijuana

(1) Maintaining a dwelling, (1) Firearm by convicted felon

Keyshawn Fields

(2) Trafficking Methamphetamine, (1) PWIMSD Methamphetamine, (2) Trafficking Heroin

(1) Felony Possession Methamphetamine, (1) Felony possession of Heroin, (1) PWIMSD Heroin

(1) Felony possession of Fentanyl, (1) Conspire to sell/deliver Heroin,

(1) Conspire to sell Methamphetamine, (1)Possession of Marijuana

Jameel Blue

(1) PWIMSD Heroin, (1) PWIMSD Cocaine, (1) PWIMSD SCH III

(1) Maintain a dwelling for C/S, (1) Resist/Dealy/Obstruct

Amanda Evans

(1) PWIMSD Heroin, (1) Maintain a dwelling for C/S, (1) Possess < ½ oz marijuana

Elijah Smith

(4) Trafficking heroin, (2) PWIMSD heroin, (1) Sell/Deliver heroin

(1) Possession of firearm by felon, (1) Maintain a dwelling for C/S

(1) Possess < ½ oz marijuana, (1) Simple Possess SCH II

Teresa Branch

(2) Trafficking Methamphetamine, (4) Trafficking Opium/Heroin, (2) Trafficking Fentanyl

(1) PWIMSD Methamphetamine, (1) PWIMSD Heroin, (1) PWIMSD Fentanyl

(1) PWIMSD Marijuana, (1) PWIMSD Schedule I Controlled Substance

(1) Felony Possession of Marijuana, (1) Possession of a Stolen Firearm

Khalil Terry

(9) Trafficking Methamphetamine, (2) PWIMSD Methamphetamine, (3) PWIMSD heroin

(2) Sell/Deliver Methamphetamine, (5) Trafficking heroin, (3) Sell/Deliver heroin

Tyrell Bullock

(2) Trafficking Opium or Heroin, (1) PWIMSD Heroin, (1) Possession of firearm by felon

(1) Maintain a dwelling for C/S, (1) Possession of stolen firearm

(1) Expose child to controlled substance, (1) Felony possession SCH I

Durham Man Found Inside Room at Former 121 Motel Arrested on Three Felony Charges

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— from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

On May 19, 2026, at approximately 7:40 a.m., officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to 197 Parham Road, the location of the former 121 Motel, in reference to a breaking and entering in progress.

Shortly after arrival, officers located 44-year-old Kevin Thomas Clayton, of Durham, inside one of the rooms purportedly attempting to steal materials from the structure. During the investigation, officers also conducted a search at the Budget Host Inn, located at 1727 N. Garnett Street, where Clayton was reportedly residing. Tools, commonly used to burglarize and steal were located in his possession.

Clayton was charged with:

Felony Breaking and Entering
Felony Injury to Property to Obtain Non-Ferrous Metal
Felony Possession of Burglary Tools

Clayton received a $50,000 secured bond and was remanded to the Vance County Detention Center.

He is scheduled to appear in Vance County District Court on June 16, 2026.

From HPD: Multi-Agency Operation Yields Drug Arrests

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— From HendersonPolice Chief Marcus Barrow

Joint Operation Press Release:

Through a joint operation conducted on May 1, 2026, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force) executed two search warrants within Vance County, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of a significant quantity of narcotics.

Location 1: 1843 Vicksboro, Lot 22 – Henderson, NC 

Seized – 31,100 dosage units of Heroin, 3,044 Grams of Methamphetamine, 1,100 Grams of Fentanyl, 296 grams of M30 pills, 958 grams of Marijuana, $4,247 in US Currency, 3 firearms (1 stolen), other drug manufacturing equipment and associated material.

Michael Lewis Miles (33)
120 Spring Lane, Henderson, NC
Charges:

  • (2) Trafficking Methamphetamine
  • (4) Trafficking Opium/Heroin
  • (2) Trafficking Fentanyl
  • PWISD Methamphetamine
  • PWISD Heroin
  • PWISD Fentanyl
  • PWISD Marijuana
  • PWIMSD Schedule I Controlled Substance
  • Felony Possession of Marijuana
  • Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon
  • Possession of a Stolen Firearm

Lee Arthur Adams (43)

4340 County Home Road, Greenville, NC

Charges:

  • (2) Trafficking Methamphetamine
  • (4) Trafficking Opium/Heroin
  • (2) Trafficking Fentanyl
  • PWISD Methamphetamine
  • PWISD Heroin
  • PWISD Fentanyl
  • PWISD Marijuana
  • PWIMSD Schedule I Controlled Substance
  • Felony Possession of Marijuana
  • Possession of a Stolen Firearm

Location 2: 31 South Oliver Drive, Lot 10 – Henderson, NC

Seized – $2,445 in US Currency, 29 Grams of Methamphetamine, 3 grams of Fentanyl Pills, 1- Glock 9mm, and Machine gun conversion device.

Omir Khaseed Gibbs (21)

29 Coyote Court – Henderson, NC

Charges:

  • (2) Trafficking Methamphetamine
  • Maintaining a Vehicle/Dwelling for Controlled Substances
  • Exposing Children to a Controlled Substance
  • PWISD Schedule II Controlled Substance
  • PWIMSD Methamphetamine
  • Possession of a Machine Gun
  • Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

Michael Lewis Miles, also known as “Mike Mike,” is currently on federal probation.

All individuals were held under no bond and transported to the Vance County Detention Center, where they remain pending court proceedings at the state and/or federal level.

Sheriff Curtis Brame and Chief Marcus Barrow commend the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved. This operation reflects the strength of continued partnerships and a shared commitment to removing dangerous narcotics and firearms from our community.

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Operation Resilience – A Coordinated Enforcement Operation in Henderson

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Press Conference Audio

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Update 9-20-25 at 10 a.m.

With the Henderson Police Station as a backdrop, representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies announced Friday the arrests of five individuals on federal charges ranging from drugs violations to possession of firearms.

Operation Resilience cast a wide net over the course of the past couple of days, and District Attorney Mike Waters commended all those gathered for the press conference on Friday afternoon.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Ellis Boyle echoed the sentiments, highlighting the work of the ATF. “You made the evidence, you gave us the cases and we are committed to prosecuting them in federal court,” Boyle said during remarks at the press conference.

According to information provided by the office of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, the following individuals were charged as a result of Operation Resilience:

  • Qwmaine Raekwon Knott of Henderson, 29, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
  • Andre Khan of Henderson, 30, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.
  • Terrance Hargrove of Henderson, 47, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.
  • Keith Bagley of Oxford, 46, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
  • Shamar Evans of Oxford, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and up to 35 years in prison.

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow said, “This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration among law enforcement agencies with diverse areas of expertise. Extensive preparation was devoted to its planning and execution, and the success achieved reflects the strength of federal, state, and local agencies working in unison. As the Chief of Henderson, I am proud of our relationship with each of these agencies and look forward to more proactive projects in the near future.”

Barrow provided a comprehensive list of arrests and charges to WIZS News following the press conference. Not included in the information below, however is information from the N.C. State Highway Patrol or the Alcohol Law Enforcement agency. Barrow said he expects to have that information soon.

Arrests and Charges

– Felony Arrests: 8 individuals arrested on 26 charges
– Misdemeanor Arrests: 9 individuals arrested on 14 charges
– Charges from Citations: 24

Federal Indictments

– Subjects Taken into Custody: 5 detainees on 10 charges

North Carolina Department of Adult Correction

Probation/Parole Enforcement

– Felony Absconders: 3 arrests
– Misdemeanor Absconders: 2 arrests
– Felony Probation Violations: 5 arrests
– Misdemeanor Probation Violations: 1 arrest

Seizures and Evidence

– Search Warrants Obtained and Served: 4
– Firearms Seized: 4 with 1 being stolen
– Controlled Substances Seized:
– Cocaine: 159.45 grams
– Heroin: 100 dosage units
– Marijuana: 62 grams
– MDMA: 3 grams
– Methamphetamine: 2 grams

Henderson Police Capt. Ferguson said the operation – a month or more in the making – was the result of the police department and Adult Corrections putting together a list of absconders from parole and repeat offenders.

N.C. Secretary for the Department of Adult Correction Leslie Dismukes said 29 probation officers participated in the operation, which netted the arrest of five absconders and eight others for a total of 19 felony charges, six misdemeanor charges and confiscation of two firearms.

“Safe communities is the number one priority of Adult Corrections,” Dismukes said during the press conference. Dismukes also thanked Vance County District Attorney’s Office for the partnership of the department’s ongoing efforts to reduce crime and ensure compliance among those it supervises.

The primary objective of the operation was to perform warrantless searches of supervised offenders and their residences while apprehending individuals with active arrest warrants related to probation or post-release supervision violations.

The searches were conducted Thursday, Sept. 18 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Participating in the operation were probation officers from the N.C. Dept. of Adult Correction, officers from Henderson Police Department, deputies from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office,  federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), state agents from N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) and N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and troopers from the N.C. State Highway Patrol. Prosecutions are being handled by the Vance County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

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Click Play for 9-22-25 TownTalk Update!

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Update 9-19-25 at 3:51 p.m. courtesy of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of NC Ellis Boyle
Five Defendants Charged Federally, More Than 30 State Warrants Executed in Henderson Crime Suppression Effort

 

Today, U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle, along with federal and local law enforcement, announced that five individuals have been charged in separate federal cases as part of a coordinated enforcement operation. In addition to the federal charges, more than 30 state warrants were executed in the Henderson area. The operation targeted violent offenders, drug traffickers, and absconders, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to protecting communities destabilized by violent crime and drug activity.

“These charges and arrests show that law enforcement will not stand idly by while violent offenders and absconders fuel instability in Henderson,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “This surge reflects the strength of our local, state, and federal partnerships, and we remain committed to supporting Henderson and Vance County in this united fight against crime. If you commit a federal crime, you can expect to spend a lot of prison time.”

“The FBI is committing resources to support our law enforcement partners across North Carolina every day. The FBI Raleigh Durham Safe Streets Task Force is honored to have assisted the Henderson Police Department in this important fugitive roundup. When we work together to address and mitigate violent crime, the American people win and the Justice system can take the next step to hold offenders convicted in court, accountable,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

“Enforcement operations like this demonstrate the importance of collaboration,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Through partnerships and a commitment to public safety, we’re finding and apprehending those individuals that pose the greatest threats to our communities.”

“Violent offenders threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods, and this operation shows the strength of coordinated law enforcement at every level,” said U.S. Marshal Glenn M. McNeill, Jr., of the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure fugitives are apprehended and communities across Henderson and Vance County are safer as a result of these efforts.”

“This operation is a result of planning, intelligence sharing, and collaboration. It sends a clear message that criminal activity has no place in our neighborhoods, and we will use every resource available to uphold the safety and integrity of our communities,” said Commander of the State Highway Patrol, Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “But our work does not stop with arrests, it continues with prevention, community outreach, and making sure that our enforcement efforts are matched by support for the families and neighborhoods most affected by crime.”

“On behalf of the SBI and our hard-working agents, we are extremely proud to join forces with our local, state, and federal partners to arrest probationers and absconders in Vance County to reduce crime and keep citizens safe. We are committed to assisting our sheriffs, chiefs, and U.S. Attorneys with the ongoing effort to get drugs off the street and put violent offenders in jail. Without the strong partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, the success of this type of operation would not be possible,” said the North Carolina SBI Director Chip Hawley.

“Successful collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners is essential to strengthening our communities and making North Carolina safer for everyone,” said ALE Director Bryan House. “I’m grateful for the strong relationships we’ve built that make operations like this possible.”

“This operation is an excellent example of how effective law enforcement collaboration can be in improving safety in our communities,” said Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary for the Department of Adult Correction. “I’d like to thank all our law enforcement and prosecution partners for their ongoing assistance to reduce crime and ensure compliance among those we supervise.”

“This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration among law enforcement agencies with diverse areas of expertise. Extensive preparation was devoted to its planning and execution, and the success achieved reflects the strength of federal, state, and local agencies working in unison. As the Chief of Henderson, I am proud of our relationship with each of these agencies and look forward to more proactive projects in the near future,” said Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Participating agencies included the FBI, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina SBI, the North Carolina ALE, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, District Attorney Mike Waters, the Henderson Police Department, the Oxford Police Department, and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Law enforcement divided the effort into three arrest teams and three search teams, conducting approximately 30 absconder warrant services and 40 warrantless searches. Together, the teams executed coordinated arrests and searches aimed at reducing violent crime and holding fugitives accountable. According to court documents, the following five individuals, all from the Henderson area, were arrested on federal charges as part of the recent enforcement effort:

• Qwmaine Raekwon Knott of Henderson, 29, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

• Andre Khan of Henderson, 30, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.

• Terrance Hargrove of Henderson, 47, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison.

• Keith Bagley of Oxford, 46, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

• Shamar Evans of Oxford, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and up to 35 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Loeser, Jaren Kelly, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Becker are prosecuting the cases.

These federal cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A copy of this press release is located on our website.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Henderson Police: Two Arrested Following Searches That Yield Drugs, Guns In Separate Incidents

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— information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

Over the past couple of days, Henderson Police have made arrests in two separate incidents that resulted in confiscation of drugs and weapons.

On Wednesday, May 21, officers responded to a call reporting individuals with firearms in the area of 925 Orange St., according to information from Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle parked on the roadway and noted marijuana in plain view inside the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted, leading to the discovery of three fully automatic handguns—one of which was confirmed stolen—as well as approximately 670 dosage units of heroin, approximately 52 blue pills suspected to contain fentanyl and marijuana.

A 17-year-old juvenile was taken into custody and charged with the following offenses:

  • Three counts of Trafficking Heroin
  • Three counts of Possession of a Machine Gun
  • One count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance
  • One count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm
  • One count of Simple Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance

The juvenile posted a $165,000 bond.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, police officers, in collaboration with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, executed a narcotics search warrant at a residence located at 936 Bridgers St.

As a result of the investigation and subsequent search, officers seized approximately 81 grams of crack cocaine, 5.2 grams of powder cocaine, and drug manufacturing equipment.

Richard Andrew Durham, 48, was arrested in connection with this investigation.

Durham has been charged with the following offenses:

  • Two counts of Trafficking in Cocaine
  • One count of Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, and Deliver Cocaine
  • One count of Manufacture of Cocaine
  • One count of Maintaining a Dwelling for the Purpose of Storing a Controlled Substance
  • One count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Durham received a $200,000 secured bond and is currently being held at the Vance County Detention Center pending his next court appearance.

The Henderson Police Department remains committed to working with local and regional partners to combat illegal drug activity in our community.

TownTalk: Police Chief Concerned With Litter Problem

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Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow wants the public to be on the lookout for…signs in their neighborhoods that are part of an anti-litter campaign.

The signs will feature brightly colored handprints – about the size of a child’s hand – and will include a QR code that is linked directly to Crime Stoppers, so the public can report instances of littering by pointing their cell phone at the code.

Barrow told WIZS Monday on TownTalk that the campaign is as much about education and prevention as it is about catching litterbugs.

With a modest $6,000 budget from a federal asset forfeiture funds allocation, Barrow said he plans to target elementary school-aged children across the city to impress upon them the importance of keeping litter off the streets.

“It’s going to be an inclusive campaign,” Barrow said, adding that there will be ways to tie in with businesses, pastors and churches and individuals. “We’re just going to try to throw the kitchen sink at this thing,” he said.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon helped get quarterly cleanups started when he came on board, which complements the state’s annual Litter Sweep campaign, which this year is April 26.

Barrow said he still recalls those catchy phrases he learned when he was in elementary school, and they’ve stuck with him – “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires,” and “Give a Hoot – Don’t Pollute,” to name a few.

This campaign’s catch phrases aimed at schoolchildren can have a similar lasting effect on today’s young people – “Don’t Trash Our Future” and “Children Deserve a Clean Community” bring home the message to put trash in its place.

There’s even talk of having stickers that fast-food restaurants will put on their bags that will contain the anti-litter messaging, Barrow said, “to put it in as many faces as we can to prevent (littering) instead of taking punitive measures.”

More information about the upcoming campaign should be available in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

TownTalk: Henderson Police Considering Installation Of License Plate Readers

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Update 9:45 p.m. Monday:

The Henderson City Council unanimously approved, with two council people absent, both measures presented in more detail in the original noon news update listed below.

With those votes of approval, each sworn Henderson Police officer will receive $6,456 more in base salary except for exempt staff like captains, assistant chief positions and HPD Chief Marcus Barrow.  It sounded like from what City Manager Terrell Blackmon said during the meeting, those command positions would soon also receive a comparable increase and that it may be the same amount of $6,456.  In addition, the funding equivalent of the annual pay and benefits of one police officer, which is already funded but an unfilled position, will be used to implement the License Plate Readers.

Barrow said in the meeting that his patrol and investigation divisions need the most help right now.  He said the LPRs would help in both those areas and thus the whole police department.

The LPRs are electronic data, and Barrow said it was electronic data that led to the arrest of the three suspects in the recent Gholson Avenue homicides.

Chief Barrow provided a few additional facts the public may like to hear as well.

He said, “They are visible.  They are not hidden from the public.  They are motion sensitive.  They are not constantly recording.  They are identical to what is used at the toll booths.  This is not for speeding.  It will not take pictures of people, just motor vehicles.  This is the least invasive.”

He said to be fair the placement of the devices would be totally data driven.

Original Update Noon Monday:

The Henderson City Council is expected to act tonight on a couple of requests aimed at giving local law enforcement officers more money in their pockets and an additional tool to help them in their job of keeping the city safe.

The police department is allotted 52 sworn law enforcement positions, but it currently has about a dozen vacancies. In two separate requests spelled out in tonight’s agenda information packet, Chief Marcus Barrow wants to take the equivalent of one police officer’s salary – $66,000 – and use it to place throughout the city 25 camera-like devices that can read license plates.

Barrow, along with city staff, want to take some of that unused money from the salary pot and put it to work to help the current officers who patrol the city’s streets and neighborhoods.

The license plate readers, or LPRs, are small and only weigh about 3 pounds but they can have a powerful impact. Police can enter license plate information into the system and the LPR will “look” for matching tags. Whether it’s a stolen vehicle or a vehicle associated in other criminal activity, the LPR can help police narrow down searches.

Flock Safety will provide 25 license plate readers for the police department to use, and will in essence, take the place of one law enforcement officer.

Numerous nearby municipalities are already using Flock Safety or have contracted with them for deployment in the near future. Local law enforcement is in constant contact with those agencies to help solve crimes that travel through various jurisdictions.

“Filling positions has become increasingly difficult, and law enforcement agencies across the nation are seeking alternative solutions to supplement their shortages with technology and tools to assist their workforce,” states information from the council’s agenda packet.

But additional technology isn’t the only thing that Barrow is asking council members to consider: He wants them to bump up the salaries of current sworn officers by more than $6,000 to make the base pay more competitive with nearby agencies.

The city raised the base pay a couple of years ago, and Barrow said that helped retention rates tremendously. But now, surrounding agencies are upping their game and implementing pay adjustments of their own.

“We are just past the midterm of our fiscal year and anticipate a $400,000 to $500,000 surplus in our approved salaries, wages and benefits. With most agencies in the Wake County area at a $50,000 starting salary, and comparable sized agencies at or near this mark, it is necessary that we develop a salary adjustment that will align with the market trend to help with officer retention and recruitment,” as stated by Barrow and other city staff in information included in the agenda packet.

The salary adjustment of $6,456 for each sworn employee would bring the hiring salary for an entry-level sworn officer to $48,959 – just shy of Wake County agencies, but more in line with neighboring counties’ pay rates.

“If nothing is done, we expect shortages to continue and retention efforts to dwindle as competing agencies further the gap,” according to the agenda information.

If implemented this month, March 2023, the total cost, including benefits but not including the pending retirement of a lieutenant in March or April, is approximately $102,000. In FY 23-24, the total increase would be $315,000 in the Salary/Wage line item.

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TownTalk: Coming Together To Improve The Community

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The Henderson Police Department’s Tony Mills wears a couple of hats – he’s a detective but he also serves as a liaison with state and federal law enforcement agencies to make sure those strong partnerships are in place among the different entities.

But Mills also is from Henderson, and he calls Henderson home, which just strengthens his resolve to make the city he serves even better.

Mills was one of the speakers at last week’s gathering of business and community leaders sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, and he spoke Tuesday with John C. Rose on Town Talk.

In reflecting on his remarks during the Aug. 26 meeting held at Clearview Church, Mills was optimistic.

“I’m as excited as I’ve ever been, being a resident of Henderson, and calling Henderson home, and being an employee for the city of Henderson and working for the Henderson Police Department…seeing this group wanting to come together with the city and work with the city council,” Mills said he has plenty of hope for the Henderson’s future.

Having business leaders come together to voice concerns as well as offer support and suggestions may be just what the community needs to stay on the path toward progress. Having the business and private sectors working in concert with law enforcement is a positive step.

“The Henderson Police Department is a small department,” Mills readily acknowledged. But that doesn’t cloud his opinion of its capabilities. “I will put the Henderson Police Department and its men and women that serve the citizens of Henderson against any police department in the continental United States. That’s their work ethic, that’s their drive to make their community a better place,” he said.

As a liaison with agencies at the state and federal levels, Mills has the opportunity to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the local district attorney’s office and Drug Enforcement Agency, among others.

“It takes all of us to work together,” he said, to reach those desirable outcomes of getting the bad guys off the streets and making communities safer.

But once an arrest is made, the wheels of justice sometimes turn slowly. State courts and federal courts may view similar crimes in different ways, he said. “You may get more time in state court for just selling heroin,” he noted. “But throw a gun into the mix, and you’re going to get more time in the federal system.”

Routinely, these external partners meet with local law enforcement to discuss the best way to proceed with prosecution. “We come up with a solution and send it up the avenue that’s going to make the community a better place,” he said.

Being a team player with these other law enforcement partners pays dividends for local departments like Henderson’s, Mills said, because they often have resources that just aren’t available or realistic for smaller forces.

Through collaboration, however, smaller departments often can have a bigger impact when it comes to getting bad guys off the streets – which is one thing that is important to business leaders and private citizens. And business leaders and private citizens are a part of the collaboration effort, he said.

“I wish I didn’t have to tell them that we need their help,” Mills said. “I wish we could get it done by ourselves, but we can’t…everybody needs to do their part.”

If you observe something that just doesn’t look right, or makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck, he said, you need to report it. Even those seemingly insignificant things could be a missing piece of the puzzle that law enforcement officers have been investigating for a while.

 

 

Investigation continues in report of armed suspects inside local Walmart

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Henderson police continue to investigate following a report Tuesday of possible armed suspects inside the local Walmart. So far, no arrests have been made in the case.

Police were called to the Walmart, located at 200 N. Cooper Dr. at about 4:15 p.m. on a report of possible armed suspects inside the store.

The first officers arrived on the scene at 4:17 p.m. The store was evacuated while a search of the building was conducted, according to information from Chief Marcus Barrow. Upon review of surveillance video, it was determined that three individuals suspected in the incident had left the store before the first officers arrived.

The store since reopened as investigators follow up on leads.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the police department through Facebook Messenger, the P3 app, Crime Stoppers, or by calling our main line 252.438.4141.