Senior officers retire, others get promoted

Posted on Sep 25, 2012 in Scene of the Crime by Josh Allen

When senior police officers retire, a sort of ‘ripple effect’ takes place throughout the department creating transfer and promotional opportunites.

The department’s ‘experience’ level took a hit this year with the retirements of Lt. Burton Golden, 40 years of service, Sgt. Jeff Springer, 33 years of service and Sgt. Tim Moree, 26 years of service.

Fortunately, the department has officers ready to step up to the challenges and responsibilities of these openings.

Sgt. Jimmy Steed was promoted to Lieutenant, Services Division.  He will oversee the departments communication center, 9-1-1 call center, records, property and evidence, animal control and building services. Lt. Steed has spent time in assignments as interim Lieutenant of Patrol, Patrol sergeant, Services sergeant and as a CID sergeant.

Sgt. Doug Murphy was laterally transferred from the Patrol Division to the Criminal Investigation Division to take the position held by Steed. Sgt. Murphy has been in patrol since joining the department in 1998 as a patrol officer, FTO, and patrol corporal. He presently serves in the department’s SWAT unit along with responsibilities in the Accident Investigation Team.

Sgt. John Berry is scheduled to be transferred from the Patrol Division to CID October 1^st.  He is taking the sergeant position vacated by Springer’s retirement. Sgt. Berry has been with the department for 22 years and has served as a patrol corporal, sergeant and with the SWAT unit. Both of these sergeant positions in CID oversee a small squad of detectives and both are required to carry an investigative case load as well.

Sgt. James Womack will be replacing Moree in the Office of Professional Standards.  The ‘OPS’ position is tasked with coordinating training, recruitment, inventory control and Internal Affairs investigations. Sgt. Womack has been with the department for 16 years and has served as an officer, FTO, School Resource Officer, patrol corporal and patrol sergeant.

Corporal Joseph Nelms, Corporal Steven McClain and Corporal Raymond Moss have been promoted to Sergeant in Patrol.  These sergeants will take the place of Murphy, Berry and Womack in patrol.

Sgt. Nelms has been with the department in patrol for 7 years.  He has served as a patrol officer, FTO and Corporal.

Sgt. McClain has been with the department assigned to patrol for the past 6 years.  He has served as a patrol officer, FTO, Corporal and is a member of the SWAT unit.

Sgt. Moss has been with the department assigned to patrol for 11 years.  He has served as a patrol officer, FTO, Corporal along with being assigned to the Accident Investigation Team and SWAT Unit.

Officer Doug Thompson has been with the department for 12 years.  During that time he has served as a patrol officer, FTO, Felony Crimes Unit Investigator and as a detective in CID.

Officer Mark Bender has been with the department for 6 years assigned to patrol, FTO and is currently a member of the SWAT unit.

Officer Billy Pillars has been with the department for 7 years.  Assigned to Patrol, he has also served as a FTO and currently a member of the SWAT unit.

The department has three recruits in the East Texas Police Academy being held in Kilgore and one recruit in another ETPA being held in Texarkana.  We have one officer who is scheduled to end his military deployment at the end of December and return to the department after 6 years of military service.