Sheriff McMahon Announces Sheriff's Citizens Academy

NEW HANOVER - New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon today announced the dates of the second Sheriff's Citizens Academy. The next Sheriff's Citizens Academy will be held from January 19th through March 23, 2010, on Tuesday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Juvenile Center Road location.

Participants will be exposed to many different aspects of law enforcement and the criminal justice system. They will hear presentations from the Sheriff, Sheriff’s Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators as well as state and federal agencies. They will also tour the Sheriff’s Office, the Detention facility, the Magistrate’s Office, and see demonstrations of the Sheriff’s K-9 teams, Firearms and the Sheriff’s Patrol and Emergency Equipment.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have no criminal record and be in reasonably good health to take the walking tours. Interested individuals may now pick up applications at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office during regular business hours. Applications may also be downloaded from the Sheriff’s Office website, http://www.NewHanoverSheriff.com. Applications must be completed and returned no later than Monday, January 4, 2010. The class will accommodate forty students. Waiting lists for upcoming classes will be started immediately.

New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon said he is excited to be offering this opportunity to the community and looks forward to having participants gain insight into many aspects of law enforcement. He feels that with increased knowledge the students will be better able to hold the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office accountable for its actions. He takes seriously his commitment to professionalism and responsibility and hopes the citizens will enjoy this experience.

Sheriff McMahon Presents Fifty-Six Service Awards

NEW HANOVER – Sheriff McMahon and his senior staff presented fifty-six service awards to twenty-seven officers of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission offers several Professional Certificate/Service Awards to recognize the level of competence of sheriffs’, deputy sheriffs and detention officers serving the sheriffs’ offices of North Carolina.

Eligibility for professional certificates is determined by a formula which combines formal education, law enforcement training and actual experience as a justice officer. Service awards are presented to those who have maintained their certification for a minimum of 15 years for Intermediate and 20 years for Advanced.

Awards presented this morning recognized individuals from Detention Officers to Captain and included Intermediate and Advanced Service Awards, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates and Intermediate and Advanced Detention Officer Certificates.

Detectives Investigate Home Invasion

NEW HANOVER - At approximately 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Deputies responded to 6316 Marrow Road, located in the Kirkwood Aarondale subdivision. The victim told Deputies a tall black male, dressed in a black suit, came to her residence attempting to sale bibles. The suspect forced his way into the residence as the victim declined and attempted to close the door. Once inside the residence the suspect held the victim at knife-point and struck the victim with a frying pan. The victim was able to defend herself with pepper-spray. The suspect fled the residence on foot in an unknown direction of travel. The suspect is described as a tall, well-spoken black male in his 40’s, with short hair. The suspect was last seen wearing a black suit and black gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detectives at (910) 798-4260 as this case remains under investigation.