Salisbury Police Department (North Carolina) Explained

Agencyname:	Salisbury Police Department
Country:	United States
Countryabbr:	USA
Divtype:	State
Divname:	North Carolina
Subdivtype:	City (United States)
Subdivname:	Salisbury, North Carolina
Police:	Yes
Local:	Yes
Headquarters:	Salisbury, North Carolina
Chief1name:	Jerry Stokes
Chief1position:	Chief

The Salisbury Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in the city of Salisbury, North Carolina in Rowan County.^[1] The city has a population of about 34,000. The Salisbury Police Department is a full-service, internationally-accredited police department by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Controversies

In April 2021, the local prosecutors declined charges against an officer after a video surfaced of him allegedly abusing his police dog the previous October. The officer subsequently was forced to resign.^[2]

In March 2021, a police officer was charged with insurance fraud.^[3]

In 2019, Salisbury police officers attempted to stop a 68-year old Black librarian for speeding ten miles over the limit. The librarian did not stop and led officers on a pursuit for 10 miles, resulting in the use of a tire deflation device. Once stopped, the officers then pulled her out the car after she refused to do so, by grabbing her hair. When she asked for medical attention, EMS was called and provided medical treatment. Body camera footage showed that police congratulated each other on their actions, with one saying "That’s good police work, baby" and another boasting of grabbing a "handful of dreads". The librarian stated she did not see the police cars that were attempting to pull her over or hear their sirens due to her listening to loud music; however, the librarian pled guilty to Failure to Heed to Blue Lights and Sirens ^{[4] [5]}

Two members of the department have died on duty, both in the early 20th century. In 1916, Special Officer Williamson Murray Linker was struck by a speeding car while directing traffic.^[6] In 1909, Policeman William A. Monroe was shot and killed when he intervened in a domestic disturbance.^[7]

Organization

The department is headed by Jerry Stokes.^[8]

It is organized into a number of divisions:

• Administration Division
• Criminal Investigations Division
  • General Investigations,
  • Vice/Narcotic Unit,
  • Crime Lab and Evidence
• Operations Division
  • Patrol,
  • Parking Enforcement,
  • Youth Crime Prevention Officer,
  • Community Resource Officers,
  • School Resource Officer

See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in North Carolina
• Rowan County Sheriff's Office

Notes and References

1. Web site: Police Department . City of Salisbury . 2 April 2021.
2. News: North Carolina officer resigns over K-9 mistreatment video . 2 April 2021 . The News & Observer . Associated Press.
3. News: Whisenant . David . Salisbury police officer charged in fraud investigation . 2 April 2021 . WBTV . 31 March 2021.
4. News: Bella. Timothy. Officers grabbed a Black librarian by her hair and tore her shoulder during traffic stop, lawsuit alleges: 'That's good police work, baby'. en-US. Washington Post. 2021-05-02. 0190-8286.
5. Web site: April 30, 2021. CBS News. 'I was scared for my life': 68-year-old Black woman describes traffic stop that prompted excessive force lawsuit. 2021-05-02. en.
6. Web site: Special Officer Williamson Murray Linker . Officer Down Memorial Page . 2 April 2021.
7. Web site: Policeman William A. Monroe . Officer Down Memorial Page . 2 April 2021.
8. Web site: Police Department. 2 April 2021. City of Salisbury.