Elizabethtown Police Department

03/01/2024

Job Announcement
Police Chief
Town of Elizabethtown

The Town of Elizabethtown is seeking an experienced, innovative, and community-focused law enforcement executive to replace its current police chief, who is retiring June 30th. The town covers approximately 5.1 square miles, with a diverse population of 3,100 residents and it is located along the Cape Fear River in southeastern North Carolina, approximately 30 minutes from Fayetteville and 60 minutes from the beautiful North Carolina beaches.

The position will manage a staff of 14 full-time sworn law enforcement officers, and 1 administrative position. Responsible for a $1.3 million budget, the position will also function as a member of the Town’s management team reporting to the Town Manager in a Council-Manager form of government. Successful candidates will participate in additional steps as part of the final selection process.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration, business, or related field and considerable experience of a progressively responsible nature in law enforcement management is preferred. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of law enforcement experience, and at least 5 years of strong leadership experience in upper management or command of a public law enforcement agency is required.

Advanced Law Enforcement Certification and advanced training through the Southern Police Institute, NCSU AOMP, or other similar program is strongly preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must possess a North Carolina driver’s license and a General Law Enforcement Certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, or the ability to obtain within a specified time frame.

The Town of Elizabethtown provides a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance; paid vacation, holidays and sick leave; participation in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System (LGERS) and NC 401K Plan with a 5% employer contribution.

The salary range is $60,000 to $85,000

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and a completed NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Form F3 by 5 pm on Monday, April 15th. All documents should be mailed to: Erin Deaver, Human Resources Director PO Box 700, Elizabethtown, NC 28337.

05/17/2023

The Elizabethtown, NC Police Department is requesting assistance in identifying the people in these pictures. Sergeant Thomas Davis would like to question them in reference to a financial card fraud case that occurred at Walmart on May 11th. Please contact the Elizabethtown Police Department at 910-862-3125 if you can identify them.

05/09/2023

Come out this Saturday, May 13th from 10am-2pm, and join us for our annual Kids Appreciation Day. There will be plenty to do: games, bouncy houses, food and bike give-aways.

05/03/2023

The Elizabethtown, NC Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying the subject in this picture. We would like to question him in reference to a larceny that occurred at CVS on 4/18/2023. If you can identify him, contact Sgt. Davis at 910-862-3125.

05/03/2023

The Elizabethtown, NC Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying the subject in this picture. We would like to question him in reference to a larceny that occurred at Walmart on 4/16/2023. If you can identify him, contact Lt. Cheshire at 910-862-3125.

04/05/2023

On Wednesday, 4/5/2023 at 12:56 pm, Officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department received a notification from the Flock Safety ALPR cameras that a stolen vehicle had entered town on East Broad Street. An officer was able to quickly locate the vehicle and verify via NCIC that it had been reported stolen.

Once the officer activated his blue lights, the driver of the stolen vehicle failed to stop and fled at a high rate of speed in an attempt to get away. The Elizabethtown officer chased the stolen vehicle approximately 14 miles to the White Oak Community, where the vehicle struck a set of stop sticks that had been deployed by a deputy with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department.

The vehicle traveled another 2 miles until the front right tire ran flat and the vehicle ran off the road and came to a stop. The driver then ran into the nearby woods where he was apprehended a short time later by members of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department.

The driver, Thomas Javie Kinlaw, III, 36 yoa of Fairmont was charged with Felony Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and numerous traffic offenses. The driver was also served with outstanding warrants for Felony Larceny of Motor Vehicle Parts (New Hanover County) and a Felony Probation Violation (Robeson County). He received a secured bond in the amount of $120,000.

02/16/2023

On Saturday, 2/11/2023 officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department received an alert from the Flock Safety ALPR cameras that a stolen Honda Accord had entered the town limits on Martin Luther King Drive. A short time later, Elizabethtown officers located the vehicle, verified that it was stolen and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, at which point the stolen vehicle fled.

The driver of the stolen vehicle led officers on a 15 mile chase that ended near Bladenboro after running over stop sticks deployed by the highway patrol. The driver then jumped and ran from the vehicle with a handgun in his hand. After a brief search, the driver was located in some nearby woods. A K-9 from the sheriff’s department was used to locate the gun that the driver had thrown after running into the woods.

During a search of the stolen vehicle, officers were able to locate two (2) separate packages containing ma*****na. A deputy also retrieved a book bag containing ma*****na that the driver had thrown from the vehicle during the chase. The total weight of the ma*****na seized was 495.8 grams, which is just a little over one (1) pound.

The driver, Hassan Nahaeem Swindell, 24 yoa from Fayetteville was wanted by the NC Department of Corrections for a parole violation. He was charged with Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Felony Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance, Felony Flee/Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle, and numerous traffic offenses.

Mr. Swindell received a bond in the amount of $100,000 for the offenses listed above. However, he is being held at the Bladen County Detention Center without bond for the outstanding DOC warrant for the parole violation.

12/13/2022

Flock Safety Notification

On Sunday, 12/11/2022 at 3:18 pm, officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department received an alert from the Flock Safety ALPR cameras notifying them that a vehicle had entered town in which the owner had outstanding active felony warrants. Officers were able to quickly locate the vehicle, verify the license plate and conducted a traffic stop. The officers identified the driver as Amonte Rucinski, 22 yoa, from Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Mr. Rucinski had active warrants that had been issued by the Fayetteville Police Department on 12/2/2022 relating to the following: Breaking Or Entering a Motor Vehicle, Felony Larceny, Financial Card Theft, Possession of Stolen Property and several counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense and Financial Card Fraud.

Mr. Rucinski was placed under arrest and taken before a magistrate where he received a $75,000 secured bond.

11/28/2022

Flock Safety Notification

On Sunday, 11/27/22 at 4:04 pm, officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department received an alert from the Flock Safety ALPR cameras notifying them that a stolen vehicle was entering town on N. Poplar Street. Several officers were standing at the intersection of Broad and Poplar Street due to the Elizabethtown Christmas parade that was taking place.

The stolen vehicle approached the officers location, and they immediately pulled it over and conducted a traffic stop. The stolen vehicle, a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica had been reported stolen from Fayetteville.

The driver, Jordan Robert Martin, 32 of Stedman was subsequently charged with Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Martin was taken before a Bladen County magistrate where he received a $500,000 secured bond.

10/07/2022

The Town of Elizabethtown is seeking qualified applicants for a vacant patrol officer position. All forms can be downloaded from our website at: www.etownpdnc.com
Starting Salary: $38,000
Lateral transfers with:
- 1 year experience: $38,750
- 2 Years experience: $39,140
- 3 years experience: $39,710
- 4 years experience: $41,280
- 5 or more years experience: $41,850
- Add $500 to base salary for 2 year degree, $1000 for 4 year degree
- 5% increase upon completing 6 month probationary period

Town of Elizabethtown Police Department The mission of the Elizabethtown Police Department is to provide a professional, community oriented police… Read More

09/22/2022

Flock ALPR Camera Helps Elizabethtown Police Locate Stolen Vehicle

On Sunday, 9/18/22 officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department received an alert from the Flock ALPR Cameras that a stolen vehicle had entered the town limits. Officer Bryan Hickman located the stolen vehicle on W. Broad Street and conducted a traffic stop in the Tractor Supply parking lot. Officer Hickman made contact with the driver, placed him in handcuffs and secured him in his patrol car while he attempted to verify that the vehicle was stolen by performing a NCIC inquiry.

A short time later, Officer Madaleine Locklear arrived on the scene, as well as K-9 Deputy Willoughby. While Officer Hickman conducted the NCIC inquiry, he requested Deputy Willoughby to deploy his K-9 to see if he would alert on the car for the presence of controlled substances. At that time, Deputy Willoughby requested that the two passengers step out of the vehicle and then he proceeded to walk his K-9 around the vehicle, where he alerted to the presence of controlled substances.

Officer Locklear and Deputy Willoughby then stood by with the passengers as Officer Hickman conducted a search of the interior of the vehicle where he located approximately 9 grams of methamphetamine and 1 gram of fentanyl. Officer Hickman also located a 9mm handgun.

Officer Hickman charged the driver, Christopher Blake Carroll with Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of Firearm by a Felon, Driving While License Revoked, and he was also served with a parole violation. Carroll received a secured bond in the amount of $261,000.

Officer Hickman charged the passenger, Briona Ashley Thomas, with Felony Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance and Possession of Methamphetamine. Thomas received a secured bond in the amount of $21,000.

Officer Hickman also charged passenger Shane Michael Britt, with an outstanding warrant for Assault on a Female and Injury to Personal Property. Britt received an unsecured bond in the amount of $1,000.

08/31/2022

UNCLAIMED FI****MS

The Elizabethtown Police Department is in possession of previously seized fi****ms that have remained unclaimed and are no longer part of any ongoing criminal or civil cases. Individuals with a valid claim to ownership should contact the Elizabethtown Police Department prior to November 21st, 2022 to reclaim their property. A hearing will be conducted to determine the disposition of any remaining unclaimed fi****ms on November 28th, 2022 in Superior Court at the Bladen County Courthouse.

You can stop by the police department for further information, or contact Detective Thomas Davis at 910-862-3125.