Chief Lorie Smith to Retire from Police Department Effective May 1

Garner Police Chief Lorie Smith has announced that she is retiring effective May 1, 2025, after 30 years of creditable law-enforcement service—all in her hometown with the Garner Police Department.

Chief Smith has led the Police Department since December 2021. She joined it in 1997 as a member of the Patrol Division and started her ascent in the department when she was promoted to sergeant in 2004.

Chief Smith has been a trailblazer throughout her stellar career. She became the first sworn female member of the Police Department’s command staff when she was promoted to lieutenant in 2015. She then became the department’s first female captain in 2017 and subsequently moved into her current role as the agency's first female chief.

“For me, it has never been about being the police chief or being the first female chief,” said Chief Smith. “I saw this opportunity as a way to advocate for the men and women of the Garner Police Department. I wanted to support a culture where employees felt valued and supported and wanted to come to work each day."

“It has always been my priority to ensure that all GPD employees have the resources, opportunities, training and equipment they need to grow and develop professionally," she said. "I hope that my achievements during my career will inspire others to work hard and persevere through difficult challenges to achieve their goals.”

Reflecting on her career, Chief Smith put primary focus on the exceptional team of which she has been a part.

“I am most proud of the dedicated professionals who serve the Garner community, the high standards we achieve, the exceptional level of service we provide and the positive reputation we have established within the Garner and law enforcement communities,” she said.

Chief Smith’s service to the Police Department has been wide ranging. As a lieutenant, she commanded the Criminal Investigations Division. As a captain, she commanded the Administration Bureau through 2020, serving as the department’s backup public information officer (PIO), primary internal affairs investigator and administrator overseeing the department’s annual budget.

Before her appointment as chief, Smith led the department’s Operations Bureau with oversight of the Patrol, Support Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions. She also was the department’s primary PIO.

In addition, Chief Smith has been a field training officer, general instructor, Crisis Intervention Team officer, negotiator, team leader and team commander for the department’s Crisis Negotiations Team. She also served as a board member of the North Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network from 2016 through 2021.

Grassroots engagement here in Garner has always been a critically important facet of her work, Chief Smith said.

“The people and sense of community are what make Garner special,” she said. “The relationships I developed and nurtured over the years helped build a strong sense of community where people genuinely care about and come together to support each other.”

Chief Smith has been a member of the Garner Educational Foundation since 2015 and has volunteered with the Schools and Community Organized to Read (SCOR) program at Timber Drive Elementary.

She also has been an active volunteer with the Garner Police Athletics and Activities League (PAAL) since its inception and has served as a PAAL coordinator at Rand Road and East Garner Elementary Schools.

“I am proud of the fact I spent my entire career serving with the Garner Police Department," Chief Smith said. “It is a testament to my level of commitment to the Garner community and the law enforcement profession. I will forever be grateful for the great role models and mentors who believed in, encouraged and supported me throughout my career.”

Chief Smith will be recognized for her exemplary service to Garner at the April 1 Town Council meeting.

For more information about the Garner Police Department, please visit GarnerPD.org and follow the department on Facebook and Instagram (@garner_police_department).

via Town of Garner

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Garner Police Department Recognized for Reaching 30-Year Mark in Continuous Accreditation

(From left) Accreditation Manager Dana Clay, Lt. Tyler Rose, Chief Lorie Smith, Deputy Chief Chris Adams, Capt. Michael Medlin and former chiefs Joe Binns and Tom Moss were on hand at the April 1 Garner Town Council meeting to celebrate the Police Department's 30 years of CALEA accreditation.

The Garner Police Department has reached an impressive milestone, earning advanced law enforcement national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) for the 10th consecutive three-year period.

The achievement was recognized last month at the CALEA annual conference in Garden Grove, Calif., and then here in Garner at the April 1 Town Council meeting. The department was first accredited in March 1994 under the leadership of former chief Tom Moss, who attended the Council meeting recognition.

Following a multi-year self-assessment phase and a meticulous site-based assessment of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment and facilities by CALEA assessors, Garner Police Department Chief Lorie Smith, Town Manager Jodi Miller and Accreditation Manager Dana Clay attended last month's CALEA conference for formal recognition of the department's reaccreditation.

CALEA President Marlon Lynch and Executive Director Craig Hartley awarded the Police Department with accreditation, signifying excellence in public safety and commitment to the Garner community. The department now moves into CALEA’s four-year accreditation cycle that includes four annual remote, web-based file reviews and a site-based assessment in the fourth year.

“I am very proud of the dedication and hard work of our team of professionals who helped us receive our 10th accreditation,” Chief Smith said. “Achieving more than 30 years of accreditation is a testament to the department’s commitment to excellence.”

This latest reaccreditation is a capstone achievement for Chief Smith, who will be retiring at the end of this month after 30 years of creditable service--all in her hometown with the Garner Police Department.

Chief Smith said Accreditation Manager Clay, who also is retiring, deserves special recognition.

“Ms. Clay has served as the Police Department’s accreditation manager since May 2003 and has been instrumental in helping us maintain our excellence in the accreditation process,” Chief Smith said. “Her knowledge and experience have been invaluable, and she will be greatly missed as she retires on April 4 after 22 years of service with the Town.”

The purpose of CALEA is to develop standards based on international best practices in public safety, and to establish and administer the accreditation process. The accreditation process is how a public safety agency voluntarily demonstrates how it meets professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.

The benefits of CALEA accreditation include:

• Controlled Liability Insurance Costs: Accredited status makes it easier for agencies to purchase liability insurance; allows agencies to increase the limit of their insurance coverage more easily; and, in many cases, results in lower premiums.

• Stronger Defense Against Lawsuits and Citizen Complaints: Accredited agencies are better able to defend themselves against lawsuits and citizen complaints. Many agencies report a decline in legal actions against them once they become accredited.

• Greater Accountability Within the Agency: Accreditation standards give the chief executive officer a proven management system of written directives, sound training, clearly defined lines of authority and routine reports that support decision making and resource allocation.

• Staunch Support from Government Officials: Accreditation provides objective evidence of an agency’s commitment to excellence in leadership, resource management and service delivery. As a result, government officials are more confident in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and meet community needs.

• Increased Community Advocacy: Accreditation embodies the precepts of community-oriented policing. It creates a forum in which police and residents work together to prevent and control crime. This partnership helps residents understand the challenges confronting law enforcement and gives law enforcement clear direction about community expectations.

• Improved Employee Morale: Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence and competence. It requires written directives and training to inform employees about policies and practices; facilities and equipment to ensure employee safety; and processes to safeguard employee rights. Employees take pride in their agency, knowing it represents the very best in public safety.

CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the National Sheriffs' Association; and the Police Executive Research Forum.

via Town of Garner

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Garner Police Department Deputy Chief Adams to Serve as Interim Chief Starting April 26

Garner Police Deputy Chief Chris Adams will serve as the Police Department’s interim chief starting April 26 until a permanent replacement for the department's top leadership position is named.

Deputy Chief Adams will move into his new temporary role following the retirement of Chief Lorie Smith, who closes out her law-enforcement career on April 25 after 30 years of creditable service—all with the Garner Police Department.

The appointment of Deputy Chief Adams to his new interim role “will allow a seamless leadership transition in the Police Department when Chief Smith retires,” Town Manager Jodi Miller said.

Deputy Chief Adams is a proven community-minded leader with 26 years of experience in policing, all of which are with the Garner Police Department. Before starting his law-enforcement career, Deputy Chief Adams served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He has served as deputy chief in the Garner Police Department since July 2024. Prior to that, he served in various leadership roles for the department including support services captain, patrol lieutenant and several sergeant positions.

“I am honored to serve as interim chief of police for the Town of Garner,” Deputy Chief Adams said. “With 26 years of service with Garner PD, I remain deeply committed to our core values of commitment, integrity and professionalism. During this time of transition, my focus is on maintaining stability within the department, supporting our officers and continuing to build trust with the community we proudly serve. We look forward to working alongside our residents and partners to ensure Garner remains a safe and connected town for all.”

The Town of Garner is currently inviting residents’ input about the hire of the Police Department’s next permanent chief.

A short survey that takes about 3 minutes to complete is open until April 30 and can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GarnerCommunitySurvey

via Town of Garner

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Garner Police Department Earns Statewide Award for Recruitment Video

Communications Media Coordinator Kyle Kettler and Sgt. Joseph Gomes collaborated on the award-winning promotional video that Police uses for recruitment purposes.

The Town of Garner was among 27 North Carolina jurisdictions to earn recognition in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2025 Excellence in Communications Awards. The Town won first-place honors in the category of promotional videos for an update to the Police Department’s recruitment video.

The video was filmed, directed and edited by Communications Media Coordinator Kyle Kettler in collaboration with Sgt. Joseph Gomes.

The objective of the video was to highlight the work-life balance that the Police Department offers, appeal to diverse applicants and showcase community-policing efforts. The video provides “evergreen” content that can be used at career fairs, school presentations and on social media to present the Police Department in an exciting and appealing light.

Produced over the course of four months, the video incorporated new footage from events, officer trainings, ridealongs and scenes from officers' home-life activities. The narration was recorded from officers featured in the video with additional voiceover narration by Chief Lorie Smith.

“I am so proud of the collaboration between Communications and Police on this video,” Chief Smith said. “We wanted an updated recruitment video that emphasized the community focus of our department, and this video succeeded in capturing that in a powerful way.”

The Town of Garner has won a total of 41 first- and second-place NC3C Excellence in Communications Awards since it started competing in the annual statewide contests in 2012.

The year's awards were announced on April 10 during NC3C’s annual conference. 179 award entries from 47 local government organizations were judged by professional communications peers from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators.

To learn more about the Garner Police Department, including how to apply for a position, visit GarnerPD.org.

via Town of Garner

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License plate reader leads Garner PD to stolen vehicle; juvenile robbery suspects taken into custody

Three juvenile robbery suspects are in custody after a Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reading (ALPR) camera led Garner Police to a stolen vehicle.

On Tuesday, a Flock Safety ALPR camera alerted Garner Police to a stolen vehicle on US 70. A Garner police officer followed the car from US 70 onto I-40 as he waited for additional backup officers to arrive.

When the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver accelerated and led police on a chase through Johnston County.

Near the Johnston-Wayne County line, officers with the Princeton Police Department deployed stop sticks to deflate the tires on the stolen vehicle.

The three juvenile occupants jumped from the car and ran, but were eventually taken into custody by the Raleigh Police Department who connected them to multiple armed robberies.

Flock Safety ALPR cameras help law enforcement investigate crime by providing objective evidence that can be transformed into actionable leads. They capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, not people or faces. 

To proactively prevent crime from occurring, the cameras will send a real-time alert to law enforcement when a stolen car or known wanted felony suspect vehicle from a state or national crime database enters the jurisdiction. They can also send real-time alerts if a vehicle associated with a missing person in an AMBER or Silver Alert is detected.

Flock Safety works with over 1,000 law enforcement agencies to solve hundreds of crimes every day.

Release courtesy Flock Safety

Behind the Badge - Garner Police Chief Lorie Smith

A docu-series spotlighting the women and men of the Garner Police Department, as they share their journey into law enforcement, allowing us to see the person behind the badge.

Chief Smith joined the Police Department in 1997 as a member of the Patrol Division and was promoted to sergeant in 2004. She became the first sworn female member of the Police Department’s command staff when she was promoted to lieutenant in 2015.

As lieutenant, Smith commanded the Criminal Investigations Division until her promotion to captain. She led the Administration Bureau through 2020, serving as the department’s backup public information officer (PIO), primary internal affairs investigator.

During her career with the Police Department, Smith has been a field training officer, general instructor, Crisis Intervention Team officer, negotiator, team leader and team commander for the department’s Crisis Negotiations Team and now serves as Garner's Chief of Police.

via Town of Garner

GPD's Capt. Lorie Smith to Serve as Interim Chief

Capt. Lorie Smith becomes interim chief effective Oct. 1.

Garner Police Capt. Lorie Smith has been named the Police Department’s interim chief effective Oct. 1 when Chief Joe Binns retires.

Capt. Smith, a lifelong Garner resident and 1992 graduate of Garner Senior High School, joined the Police Department in 1997 as a member of the Patrol Division. She was promoted to sergeant in 2004 and became the first sworn female member of the Police Department’s command staff when she was promoted to lieutenant in 2015.

As lieutenant, she commanded the Criminal Investigations Division until her promotion to captain in October 2017. She was the first female in the history of the department to be promoted to the rank of captain and commanded the Administration Bureau through December 2020, serving as the department’s backup public information officer (PIO), primary internal affairs investigator and administrator overseeing the department’s $8 million annual budget.

Currently, Capt. Smith leads the Operations Bureau with oversight of the Patrol, Support Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions. She is also the department’s primary PIO.

“Captain Smith has been a dedicated police officer for many years and is certainly deserving of this opportunity,” said Town Manager Rodney Dickerson, who appointed Smith the interim chief. “She brings knowledge from her various roles in the department, and she has always been professional in my dealings with her.”

Capt. Smith will fill the top spot on a temporary basis after Chief Binns, who announced his retirement last month, steps down from his post with 30 years of creditable service to the Police Department. He has served for a year as interim chief and a year as chief.

During her career with the Police Department, Capt. Smith has been a field training officer, general instructor, Crisis Intervention Team officer, negotiator, team leader and team commander for the department’s Crisis Negotiations Team.

Capt. Smith graduated from N.C. State University in 1996 with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice. She received her master’s degree in justice administration from Methodist University in May 2015 and is a 2018 graduate of the FBI National Academy (session #273) in Quantico, Va.

Capt. Smith also is a 2013 graduate of the year-long Management Development Program (session #25) through the N.C. Justice Academy, a 2014 graduate of the Administrative Management Officers Program (session #69) through N.C. State University and a 2014 graduate of the West Point Leadership Program through Methodist University.

Capt. Smith is active in the community as a volunteer. She has served as a board member of the North Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network from 2016 through 2021, with her most recent appointment as board vice president.

She has been a member of the Garner Educational Foundation since 2015, currently serving as the Scholarship Committee chair, and has volunteered with the Schools and Community Organized to Read (SCOR) program at Timber Drive Elementary.

In addition, Capt. Smith has been an active volunteer with the Police Department’s Police Athletics and Activities League (PAAL) since its inception and has served as a PAAL coordinator at Rand Road and East Garner Elementary Schools. She was recently appointed to serve on the finance committee, and as interim chief, will serve as the program’s executive director.

For more information about the Garner Police Department, please visit garnerpd.org and follow the department on Facebook, Twitter (@garnerpolice) and Instagram (@garner_police_department).

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner Police Chief Joe Binns to Retire Effective Oct. 1

Garner Police Chief Joe Binns has announced his retirement with 30 years of creditable service to the Town effective Oct. 1, 2021.

Chief Binns served in a variety of roles in the department over his long career with the Garner Police Department before being selected to serve as the interim chief in 2019 then permanent chief in October 2020. Prior to becoming interim chief, he was assigned as the department’s operations bureau captain with responsibilities over patrol operations, criminal investigations and special operations.

Chief Binns was the first chief to rise up through the ranks to become the top leader of the Police Department.

“I believe the Police Department is in a strong position with many capable leaders who will continue to provide excellent service to our residents,” Chief Binns said. “I have been honored to have been able to serve Garner for over 28 years and am very appreciative of the opportunities I have been given. Unfortunately, I need to focus on some personal health issues but am grateful to have served the Town and its residents over a full career.”

Under Chief Binns’ leadership, the department-wide deployment of NARCAN was instituted to fight the opioid epidemic, saving at least 22 lives since implementation.

The department received its national reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) during Chief Binns' leadership tenure. Chief Binns also expanded the department's leadership structure to prepare for the fast growth and changes Garner is now seeing.

During his tenure, Chief Binns has focused on building internal capacity to meet the growing needs of the Town as well as expanding on programs and relationships that built trust and legitimacy in the community. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Police Department has continued to build on relationships and programs that support community engagement.

“Chief Joe Binns has been an integral part of the leadership team over the last two years,” Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. “During his year as chief, he valued community relations externally and professional development and officer morale internally. He continued the integrity and professionalism of what was already an outstanding, nationally accredited Police Department, but he also put his own stamp on the department by instituting key policy changes. His common-sense approach, combined with nearly 30 years of experience, served this community well and served me well.”

Town Manager Dickerson expects to name an interim chief soon. A search for Chief Binns’ permanent replacement will begin in the coming weeks.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner Police Deny Dangerous Animal Permit

Post Date:05/24/2021 10:05 AM

After careful review, the Garner Police Department has denied the request for a Dangerous Animal Permit for the two dogs, Blitzen and Athena.   The dogs were seized on 4/27/2021 by the Garner Police Department after attacking 7yo Jayden Henderson and her mother at the home at 156 Roan Drive.  Jayden died of her injuries sustained from the attack.  The animals are currently being held at the Wake County Animal Shelter. 

“We believe that the dogs are just too dangerous to be allowed to be returned to their owners,” said Chief Joe Binns.  After reviewing all the information, the attack appeared to occur without warning or provocation.  Allowing the dogs to be released would create a substantial and unnecessary danger to the public.” 

The animals will continue to be housed at the Wake County Animal Shelter until 60 days from the date of seizure.  At that time, the animals will be turned over to the shelter to be humanely euthanized.  There are no further avenues for appeal with the Town of Garner, but the owner may appeal to a Superior Court Judge should they wish to challenge the decision. 

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner's Station Podcast #15 | Sophia Sandlin, Retired Garner Police Sgt.

After 30 years with the Garner Police Department, Sgt. Sophia Sandlin reflects on her time in Garner, community policing, and crisis intervention.