Two Longtime Members of GPD to Retire

Two veteran Garner Police Department team members have announced their retirements.

Accreditation Manager Dana Clay will retire after 30 years of service with the North Carolina Education and Training Standards Commission and Garner Police Department, and Sgt. Sophia Sandlin will end a career with the Garner Police Department that has spanned 27 years.

Ms. Clay and Sgt. Sandlin will be recognized at the April 20 Town Council meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, located at 900 7th Ave. Media are welcome to attend.

Garner Police Chief Joe Binns noted the commitment, professionalism and humility of both Ms. Clay and Sgt. Sandlin.

“Ms. Clay is humble and has never expected recognition for her efforts and dedication,” Chief Binns said. “She does these things simply because they are the right and proper things to do for the betterment of the Garner Police Department and the law enforcement profession. We have been fortunate to have Ms. Clay as an employee since 2003.”

“Sgt. Sandlin has demonstrated that service is at the center of what she does,” chief said. “She has never done it for the recognition, as she prefers not to be in the spotlight. She genuinely cares about serving the community. She is a humble person and never looks for recognition even when it is well deserved. Our department has been fortunate to have her as a Garner police officer since 1993.”

Ms. Clay served in a variety of roles during her 11 and a half years as an employee at the North Carolina Training and Standards Commission. She started her career with the Garner Police Department in May 2003 as the police administrative manager.

In 2004, Ms. Clay assumed primary responsibility for the role of accreditation manager for the department’s national law enforcement accreditation through CALEA. She continued to serve in this role until January 2014 when she transitioned to part-time employment status with the Town of Garner and continued as the department’s accreditation manager.

Ms. Clay was selected by her peers to receive the Rob Apple Officer of the Year Award in 2007.

She became a certified general instructor in 1994 and subsequently became an instructor evaluator, teaching instructor school and mandatory in-service training courses. Ms. Clay served on the School Directory Advisory Board, NC Training Officers’ Association and, most recently, the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation Advisory Board, which was established to assist in bringing state accreditation to North Carolina.

Sgt. Sandlin, who will retire effective May 1, will be the Garner Police Department’s first female African American officer to retire with 30 years of creditable service.

She began her career in 1993 as a patrol officer. While in the Patrol Division, she served as a field training officer helping train new officers. She served as an FTO for many years, training an untold number of officers.

“She was well known as one of the best FTOs that Garner PD has had,” Chief Binns said. “She provided valuable feedback about the recruits she trained and the FTO program. Sophia also served on many different oral review boards for new hires in her career. She has been a staple during those interviews and has played a vital part in the hiring of quality officers.”

Sgt. Sandlin received crisis intervention training and subsequently helped many people over the years who were experiencing mental health crises. She eventually became the department’s CIT supervisor. Sgt. Sandlin was selected as platoon leader in 2010. She was promoted to sergeant in 2013 and worked patrol for several more years.

In 2016, Sgt. Sandlin was assigned as the community services supervisor. While in that role she worked closely with the Garner Citizens and Police Together team, ran the Citizen’s Police Academy and managed several other community programs. She also taught many crime prevention classes and made important recommendations that improved the safety and quality of life for many people in Garner.

Sgt. Sandlin has never forgotten what it means to serve the community. She volunteered with the SCOR program, which involved weekly visits to a local elementary school and reading with a student. She also volunteered with the Shop with a Cop program, which assists families in need with a shopping trip for items they need, as well as gifts for Christmas.

For more information about the Garner Police Department, please visit garnerpd.org and follow the department on social media.

Chris Clayton Promoted to Garner PD Captain

Chris Clayton was promoted to captain in the Garner Police Department in a ceremony held Dec. 21.

Capt. Clayton has served the Garner community in various roles for 27 years. As a lieutenant, he served as a commander in the Criminal Investigations, Patrol and Professional Standards divisions. He also served as a Special Response Team Commander. As a sergeant, Capt. Clayton supervised patrol, traffic safety and administration.

Prior to entering supervision, Capt. Clayton served as a patrol officer, field training officer and school resource officer.

Capt. Clayton graduated from Campbell University with a bachelor of arts in government and graduated from the FBI National Academy Session #253. He is a Garner Police Athletic/Activities League board member and a CALEA assessor.

Congratulations to Capt. Clayton.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Joe Binns Named New Police Chief

Town Manager Rodney Dickerson has appointed Garner Police Capt. Joe Binns as the new Police Department’s chief of police effective Monday, Oct. 12.

Chief Binns has over 27 years of policing experience with the Town of Garner, most recently serving at the department’s interim chief of police for approximately the past year. Prior to that, Chief Binns was assigned as the department’s operations bureau commander with responsibilities over patrol operations, criminal investigations and special operations.

“I am pleased to announce that I have selected Joe Binns as the next Garner police chief,” Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. “He has a wealth of law-enforcement experience and has worked his way through the ranks, excelling in the field and administrative aspects of policing. Joe is devoted to serving the Garner community. He has proven to be worthy of the position and has been actively engaging the community over the past year as interim chief. He will be a great addition to our senior leadership team.”

Chief Binns said he was honored and ready to assume his new position.

“I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” Chief Binns said. “I am proud to be selected to lead this team of dedicated, professional public servants who work diligently day and night to keep our community of Garner safe.”

Chief Binns is a graduate of the 261st session of the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Va. He has a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University in political science and a master’s of justice administration from Methodist University in Fayetteville.

Chief Binns is an LGFCU Fellow and a graduate of the Public Executive Leadership Academy through the UNC School of Government. He also is a Paul Harris Fellow member and past president of the Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club, and he volunteers in his department’s Police Athletics and Activities League (PAAL) program.

Chief Binns and his wife, Amy, have two children, Katie and Emily. The Binns family attends the Garner campus of Hope Community Church.

A formal swearing-in ceremony for Chief Binns is planned for the Oct. 20 Town Council meeting. That meeting will be live streamed on Facebook at facebook.com/townofgarner.

To learn more about the Garner Police Department, please visit the department’s main webpage.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Public Input Session About Garner PD Slated for October 13th

Event Is Part of CALEA Assessment Process

As part of the The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) assessment taking place Oct. 12-14, 2020, Garner Police Department personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public input session on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Garner Town Hall Council Chambers, located at 900 7th Ave., Garner, NC 27529.  The public input session will conclude when there are no remaining speakers. 

Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, the public input session is restricted to those who would like to speak to assessors. If you wish to speak at the public input session, please enter the main entrance of Garner Town Hall and proceed to the Council Chambers on the first floor. Masks will be required while social distancing but may be removed while speaking to assessors. 

Police Department personnel and the public also are invited to offer comments through a public phone-in session on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The public may call (984) 233-2511 to offer comments directly to the Assessment Team. All calls are unscreened and unrecorded.

Appearances at the public input session as well as telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the Garner Police Department’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. If the public has questions regarding the specific standards or standard topics, they may contact Accreditation Manager Dana Clay at (919) 772-8810 or via email at dclay@garnernc.gov. 

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Garner Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA, 20155 or email comments to calea@calea.org.

Courtesy Town of Garner Post Date: 09/28/2020 12:09 PM

Garner Police Department Co-Hosting Blood Drive on May 13

The Blood Connection is teaming up with the Garner Police Department to host a blood drive during the 2020 National Law Enforcement Week.

The drive will be held on Wednesday, May 13 from 2-7 p.m. in the upper parking lot between the police station and the library at 912 7th Ave.

You can scan the QR code on the flier to make an appointment or visit donate.thebloodconnection.org.

Garner Police File Charges on December 28th Home Invasion

Garner Police investigators have filed charges in the December 28th reported home invasion at 108 Cedar Lane.

Devon Christopher Reese, 23, of Apex, was charged with Felony Breaking and Entering with Intent to Terrorize or Injure, First Degree Kidnapping, and Attempted First Degree Rape.

The suspect, armed with a handgun and dressed all in black with a mask, allegedly was inside the home at 108 Cedar Lane when the victim returned home at around 12:42pm.

The victim briefly struggled with the suspect before she was able to get away and go to a neighbor's home. The suspect knew the victim and had been in a dating relationship with her prior to the incident.

The suspect was located and arrested in New Jersey. The Wake County District Attorney's Office has agreed to have Reese extradited back to North Carolina to stand trial.

Garner Police Chief Announces Resignation. Will Become Assistant Town Manager in Morrisville.

Chief Brandon Zuidema announced his resignation on Thursday October 10th in a series of 3 tweets on twitter.

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Text of Chief Zuidema’s tweets.

(1 of 3) I would like to share some personal news. After almost ten years serving @Townofgarner

as Chief of @garnerpolice, I announced today that Nov 1st will be my final day in Garner. I am honored to have the opportunity to join @morrisville_nc as the Asst Town Manager.

(2 of 3) I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the men & women of @garnerpolice who I have been proud to serve with. I can’t imagine a more committed & professional team. Also thanks to the citizens, Town staff, & our elected officials in @townofgarner for their support.

(3 of 3) Lastly, I’d like to thank @theiacp and @ncacp2 for the opportunity to play a role in furthering professional policing in NC and across the country. It’s been my honor to spend 26 1/2 years as a law enforcement officer and I’m now looking forward to new challenges.

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Developing Story. We are following this story. More to come.

Garner Police Department Announces New Partnership with Ring App

The Garner Police Department is pleased to announce that it is now partnering with the Ring Neighbors App. This technology will help residents become more of the eyes and ears in preventing and solving crime in our community—a virtual community watch.

The app allows neighbors to share video of suspicious persons, suspected criminals and other crime-related events with other members of the community connected to the Ring app. The technology has already helped to solve a local crime. 

“We are excited to have this available to the Garner community,” said Chief Brandon Zuidema. “Our efforts to keep Garner a Great Place To Be depend on a strong partnership with the citizens. This capability has already proven to be a great benefit in that effort.”   

Anyone can download the app and communicate with the Police Department as well as other Garner residents. Once a user creates an account, he or she may also upload and share video from any commercially available security camera or doorbell, regardless of who makes and sells it. 

The feature that is a great benefit to law enforcement is the ability to request video that could be beneficial to cases we are investigating. Users of the app will receive an email from the Garner Police Department detailing the reason for the request. The community members may choose to share the video or decline to share it; the choice is always the user’s decision.

Republished courtesy the Town of Garner

Garner News Quick Cuts: Rap Session at Heavenly Cuts w/ Tru Pettigrew and The Garner Police

Garner News Quick Cuts

Rap Session at Heavenly Cuts w/ Tru Pettigrew and The Garner Police

Tru Pettigrew teamed up with Heavenly Cuts and the Garner Police Department for a rap session on community relations on August 17, 2019.

Special Thanks to Jermicus Banks, Wake County Assistant Principal, for coordinating the event, venue, and guests.

Tru Access - https://tru-access.com/

Garner Police Department - https://www.garnernc.gov/departments/...

The Garner News - https://www.thegarnernews.com/

New Officers Join Garner Police Department

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Officers Phinney (left) and Taylor (right) with Chief Zuidema

The Garner Police Department has welcomed three new officers recently: 

Josh Hammond joined the Police Department in May. He completed basic law enforcement training (BLET) through the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. He most recently served as a deputy sheriff with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. 

Christopher Phinney was sworn in as an officer in the Police Department last month. He graduated from East Carolina University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in security studies. He attended Wake Tech Community College for his BLET, graduating last month.        

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Officer Hammond (left) with Chief Zuidema

Patrick Taylor also was sworn in last month. He received his BLET training at Pitt Community College, graduating in May. Taylor also graduated in May from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in political science.   

To learn more about the Garner Police Department, please visit the department's webpages.

Republished courtesy the Town of Garner