Staff Report
HAMLET — Lt. Donald Ray Morton, of the Hamlet Police Department, received his Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate in Raleigh Friday from the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
Morton was joined by his wife, child, Chief Tommy McMasters and Capt. Randy Dover.
He was promoted to lieutenant in August and leads the patrol division. He has 13 years of law enforcement experience, including stints with the Rockingham and Wadesboro police departments.
Under the guidelines in the professional certificate program, officers qualify for the Advanced Certificate if he or she:
- Meets the requirements for the Intermediate Certificate; and
- Has accumulated at least 48 education and/or training points and at least 12 years experience; or
- Has accumulated at least 60 education and/or training points and at least nine years experience; or
- Has an Associate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 36 training points and at least nine years experience; or
- Has a Baccalaureate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 24 training points and at least six years experience; or
- Has a Graduate or Professional Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 16 training points and at least four years experience.
Officer Mark Terry, who has been in uniform more than 25 years, earned his Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate last month.
An officer qualifies for that certificate if he or she:
- Has accumulated at least 32 education and/or training points and at least eight years experience; or
- Has accumulated at least 40 education and/or training points and at least six years experience; or
- Has accumulated at least 48 education and/or training points and at least four years experience; or
- Has an Associate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 16training points and at least four years experience, or
- Has a Baccalaureate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least eight training points and at least two years experience.
