Gastonia Police Chief Travis Brittain announced four new sergeants and eight recently hired officers during a virtual promotion and swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 17.
“This ceremony is different than how we’ve done it in the past due to the pandemic, and this is a proud moment for us as we formally recognize our new officers and sergeants,” Brittain said. “We look forward to the great work they will do with our department and our community.”
Promotions:
Sgt. Shane Johnson, promoted on Dec. 3, joined Gastonia Police Department in 1998 and has served in patrol, and as a community coordinator, field training officer, police training officer and shift tactical officer. Johnson served the N.C. Air National Guard for 23 years.
Shelby Police Department and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office kicked off three days of gift-giving to those in need on Monday.
Cheers of joy could be heard as children received packages delivered by Sheriff’s Office deputies. Toothy grins broke out as presents of dolls, sports equipment and more could be seen bursting out of the top of brightly colored bags. Families thanked the men and women for helping them with Christmas this year.
Usually, officers would head inside for the present opening but due to COVID-19, many stayed at the door watching the kids with their presents.
This year has been a different type of Christmas for many in the community, Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford said.
One person is dead and another in jail following a shooting near the Hampton Inn and Suites in Shelby Monday afternoon.
Jacob Wesley Isenhour, of Grover, has been charged with first-degree murder, carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm inside city limits.
According to the Shelby Police Department, Bryan Allen Francis, of West Virginia, was leaving the Cleveland Mall via Dunham s Sports around 1 p.m. when the store security alarm sounded.
Isenhour, an employee of the sports shop who was working at the time, allegedly chased the person through the mall parking lot in an attempt to confront them.
Investigators with the Shelby Police Department are taking a fresh look at two missing persons cases.
Three years ago, Kenneth Jimson was discharged from Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby and was never seen again. Just six months later, Walter Vernon McCraw vanished. After years of searching for any clue on the two men s whereabouts, investigators are coming up empty. These guys could be right here, but we wouldn t have a clue, said Sgt. Richard Ivey.
Ivey took on the cases in October. After pouring over the files on the two men, Ivey was searching for new ways to find any information on the cases.
Community mourns loss of Mount Holly police officer killed in line of duty
Community mourns after officer shot and killed in Gaston County By WBTV Web Staff and Jennifer Miller | December 11, 2020 at 2:36 PM EST - Updated December 12 at 5:22 PM
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - The community is mourning after a Mount Holly police officer was fatally shot near a Gaston County car wash Friday morning.
Tyler Avery Herndon, 25, was one of several officers responding to a breaking and entering call around 3:30 a.m. off Beatty Drive. When officers encountered the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Joshua Tyler Funk, several shots were fired. Herndon was shot and taken to the hospital, where he died several hours later.