HAMLET – The Hamlet Police Department may be relatively small in terms of numbers, but it is big on talent and dedication.
Chief Scott Waters announced several promotions and awards for many of his outstanding officers and staff persons last week.
Promotions came in the way of moving up to the rank of sergeant for Britton Emert and Anthony Jacobs. Emert has been in law enforcement for four years, and is the head K9 handler, while Jacobs has over three years of experience.
Special recognition awards were allotted to Stacey Sparks as Dispatcher of the Year; Sgt. Grantland Jackson as Nighttime Officer of the Year; Sgt. Anthony Jacobs as Daytime Officer of the Year; and Captain Randy Dover as Detective of the Year.
The aggregate time of law enforcement experience sums to approximately 30 years among the four policemen. Captain Dover is the senior officer with over 14 years of law enforcement work, while Sgt. Jackson has been an officer for a decade, and, as noted, Sgt. Emert has four years of service while Sgt. Jacobs has three.
But it was back to work quickly for HPD as two arrests were made over the weekend.
Twenty-five year-old Billy Ray Sewell, Jr., of East Washington Street, Rockingham, was taken into custody at the Piggly-Wiggly Store in Hamlet on Saturday, December 9, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Cited for larceny of steaks, Sewell is on probation and was thus also charged with a violation of the conditions of such, resulting in a $30,000 secured bond.
Another arrest was made on Saturday subsequent to a traffic stop on Highway 177 at Taylor Street. Jessica Jenks of Katie Lane in Rockingham, age 21, was cited as a result of a March 22, 2017, outstanding warrant for her arrest on a charge of shoplifting. Jenks was released with a written promise to appear in court.
