HAMLET - Hot coffee, homemade sweet potato pie, and hot tips were on the menu Wednesday, August 8, at the Hamlet Senior Center at 102 Veterans Drive, as the monthly Coffee with a Cop meeting was held. Some of the police officers in attendance were Detective Randy Dover, Richard Jordan, Marc Terry, and Patrolman Brandon Cribb, talking with the people attending about concerns they have about issues in Hamlet and surrounding areas, especially crime.
Hamlet Police Chief Scott Waters introduced Richmond County Crime Stoppers Chairman of the Board Jeff Avant and Associate Chuck Cobb who shared information about the organization, founded locally in 2000. Its mission is “To assist law enforcement in providing a safer environment” for the citizens of Richmond County, as well as surrounding areas. They have a new silver Ford Explorer which was donated by Champion Ford of Rockingham, with the contact number for Crime Stoppers — (910) 997-5454 — on the hood, sides, and back of the vehicle. The SUV will be on display throughout the county at sporting events, community events, in parades, wherever it can promote awareness of this service.
Avant and Cobb explained how the system works with making anonymous tips through the Crime Stoppers' phone number. You can call (910) 997-5454 and make a report without fear of retaliation. The caller’s location and phone number are not tracked. You are given a tip number that corresponds to the report. A few days later, you call back with the tip number and told what bank to go to where you will receive a reward for the tip if it leads to an arrest. The actual amount received is in correlation to the severity of the charge and the crime. Crime Stoppers also operates at Richmond Senior High School, the Early College, the Ninth Grade Academy, and the county middle schools.
Neighborhood Watch was also a topic of discussion, and Crime Stoppers already partners with them in some parts of the county. Signs are posted in neighborhoods as a deterrent to crime in those specific areas, and Crime Stoppers will also post their signs and phone numbers if requested. Some of the citizens present for the meeting were Carol Lawson, Sarah McMillan, Cynthia Belton, Vinie Stroman, Catherine Bethea, and Scottie Bethea.
Alan Thames of the local motorcycle group Steel Wheels was at the meeting to present a check to Crime Stoppers in memory of Lee Taylor, a Richmond County Sheriff’s Deputy, who was also a member of Richmond County Crime Stoppers. Steel Wheels covers the cost of insurance for the Crime Stoppers vehicle as a tribute to this fallen officer.
The next Coffee with a Cop is scheduled for Wednesday, September 12 at 9 a.m. You are welcome to attend to share your concerns about the community with the Hamlet Police Department. For more information, call the Hamlet Senior Center at (910) 582-7985.
