Since the dismissal of former Hamlet Police Chief John Haywood last month, the Hamlet Police Department has remained under the authority of acting Chief Amery Griffin.
According to Hamlet City Manager Marchell David, there are no immediate plans to replace the former chief.
“We are not in process of selecting a new chief,” David said on Tuesday. “We have somebody currently in-house that’s going to be our acting chief indefinitely.”
Griffin, who stepped up to the new position on Sept. 11, said his experience as acting chief has gone well so far.
“It’s been good,” he said. “Things are running smoothly … I’m glad they gave me the opportunity.”
Griffin has served as patrol commander since 2005, where he worked as an assistant to the chief. He told the Daily Journal that he had plans to retire at the end of this month, but instead decided to answer the call to stay on and oversee the police department.
For now, Griffin said, the Hamlet Police Department will operate much the same way as it has in the past.
“We’re doing some internal promotions after losing some folks,” he said. “We’re also doing a few shift changes — we’re hoping we can get some new ideas out of some folks in new positions.”
Griffin has been with the Hamlet Police Department since 1986, and said he has always lived in Richmond County. He has two children and recently celebrated the arrival of a grandson.
— Staff Writer Mallory Brown can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at mallorybrown@heartlandpublications.com
Seymour Butts