ROCKINGHAM — With less than two weeks left of putting on his uniform, an outgoing police chief has received North Carolina’s highest honor.
Scott Waters, chief of the Hamlet Police Department, was awarded the Order of Long Leaf Pine during a reception Tuesday at the Richmond County Judicial Center.
The award, bestowed by Gov. Roy Cooper was presented by North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Goodwin, a Hamlet native who previously served as State Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal, and in the state House of Representatives.
The two worked in together in radio years ago and Goodwin said he was not surprised that Waters received the award.
Recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Goodwin said, make “a personal and deep impact on the communities they serve.”
Several Richmond County residents have received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recent years including: former Richmond County sheriff’s deputy Sam Jarrell; former Richmond County Commissioner Thad Ussery; former FirstHealth EMS director Tommy Cook; former Dobbins Heights leaders Gracie Jackson, Channie McManus and Robert Broady; and Nellie Parsons, former co-owner and operator of Pate’s Cleaners and Village Laundry.
Goodwin talked about Waters’ commitment to public safety, both in law enforcement and with the Richmond County Rescue Squad.
“His commitment … has been unwavering … 100 percent,” Goodwin said of Waters.
Waters announced his retirement, after nearly 30 years in law enforcement, in February.
The Hamlet native took an interest in criminal justice while studying electronics at Richmond Community College, saying he “always had a desire to help people.”
His interest in electronics also led him to work with G-104.3 FM, where he has been helping to broadcast Raider football for years. J.J. Jackson, former deputy and late husband of radio station owner Sherrell Jackson, was a mentor to Waters.
He joined the Richmond County Rescue Squad in 1989 and was working on his bachelor’s in criminal justice from UNC-Pembroke in 1991 when he responded to a call of a fire at Imperial Foods, where his mother worked.
That incident put his degree on hold.
In the meantime, Waters had applied at several law enforcement agencies. He was scheduled to take a test for the N.C. State Highway Patrol when he got a call from the Hamlet Police Department.
Waters started his 28-year career with the department as a patrolman under Chief Terry Moore.
“They say first impressions are a lasting impression,” and that was the case with Waters, Moore said.
The former chief described Waters as courteous and polite and said he followed departmental policies “to a T.”
Moore said Waters was so honest, that young officer would come to him if he thought he’d done something that might be a problem for the department.
“He’s handled both of his roles well,” Moore said of Waters’ rescue and police work. “I think he deserves this honor as well as anyone else.”
Moore also said he thought it was going to be hard for Waters to retire — but Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons has already offered a solution: a position in the sheriff’s office, which is something Clemmons offers to retiring officers so they’re not “put out to pasture.”
Goodwin, Moore and Clemmons all described Waters as a man of integrity and faith.
After he was presented the award, Waters thanked God, above all others.
“He’s carried me through everything, every storm in my life,” Waters said.
One of his first storms, which led to his public safety career, was watching his grandfather — the only grandparent he’d ever known — die when he was 8 years old.
“I made a commitment: Next time something like that happens, I’m going to be able to do something about it,” Waters said. “It’s in my heart … to be a public servant.”
Throughout the years, Waters worked “every step along the way” from shift sergeant to school resource officer at Hamlet Junior High, then to detective sergeant, detective lieutenant, detective captain and patrol captain. In 2014, Waters was promoted to chief, with Moore pinning on his badge and rank.
“It’s not an easy job,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of things that, when I close my eyes, I wish they’d go away.”
Waters, who encourages education of officers, earned his advanced certification in law enforcement, his criminal investigation certificate, his D.A.R.E. instructor certification, and his general instructor certification.
He will stay on as chief of the rescue squad, where he has been volunteer chief since 9/11.
Until he starts with sheriff’s office, Waters offered a hand to his fellow officers: “Hold that line … if you need help, call me.”
