Spencer celebrates police promotions, awards, recognitions

Published 12:04 am Thursday, January 30, 2025

By Elisabeth Strillacci

elisabeth.strillacci@salisburypost.com

 

SPENCER — When Michael File officially became police chief of the Spencer police department in May of 2022, his focus was on rebuilding the department, then supporting the officers on board.

Last Friday night, Jan. 24, before a packed house in the city council chambers, File and his department celebrated what he noted is “the culmination of our rebuilding. In 2023, we had three officers on patrol, and today we have 19 full-time officers and five part time. 2024 has been a big year.”

The gathering was an opportunity to swear in a new Spencer officer, to promote a number of officers and to recognize some outstanding work by a number of officers.

The first two promotions File announced clearly came from the heart.

“Looking back, there has been one individual who has stood out, and that is Sgt. Brian Leonard,” said File, who called Leonard forward to be promoted to lieutenant of the patrol division. Leonard came to Spencer in 2014 from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.

“And Sgt. Tim Everett and I have grown up together since we were teenagers,” File said. “He was a Kannapolis police detective in 2011, a Salisbury homicide detective, then he came here in 2023 and not only has he been with Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and School Resource Officers (SRO), but he’s my code enforcement officer, so he has a tremendous amount of responsibilities and lives up to them all.” Everett was also promoted to lieutenant.

File then happily deferred to the new lieutenants for the next promotion.

“This has been in the planning for several years, and this is a little emotional for me,” said the now Lt. Leonard.

Corporal Nick O’Brien has been an officer in Spencer since 1995, marking nearly 30 years with the department. Friday night, he was promoted to sergeant.

File then explained that officers can be evaluated for promotion to either corporal or police officer II. One officer was promoted to corporal and two to police officer II. One officer, James Nutt, was sworn in as a new Spencer officer, coming from Lexington and a number of officers were recognized for training and educational accomplishments.

Following those, Leonard called officer Austin Moore and department chaplain Sam Mills forward.

“Once in a blue moon you get that call in this business,” said Leonard. “On Dec. 5, 2023, the East Spencer police were engaged in a pursuit that went into Davidson County and then back into Spencer. The man pulled into the driveway of a house and was sitting in his car with a gun to his head. Austin kept him calm and talking until Sam arrived. Sam is not an actual officer, but he asked to speak to the man, so we prepared him and let him go. After 45 minutes, the man put the gun down and surrendered and was safely taken in to custody. His kids were watching. These two men are the reason that ended the way it did.”

File presented the chief’s recognition for exemplary service “above and beyond the call of duty.”

Finally, Lt. Everett shared a story of being selected as a head baseball coach for one of the schools in 2021, and the athletic director asked who he wanted as his assistant. Everett said he had no idea, and the AD said there had been one applicant.

“I went and checked out this guy’s Facebook page and there he was surrounded by a bunch of kids with this crazy hair,” said Everett. “When he showed up, I still wasn’t sure, but he told me he knew nothing about the game, but wanted to contribute to the community and would be there for anything I needed. Turns out, he was.”

At the time, the man worked for Frito Lay, but at the end of baseball season, he told Everett he’d like to become an officer. Everett worked for Salisbury at the time and sent the man to apply there, but Salisbury turned him down.

“And that really was by the grace of God, because then I called Chief File and told him there was no one better suited for the job, and he ended up here — and so did I.”

That man was Trent Puckett, who received the Police Officer of the Year award.

“There has been a lot of emotion in this room tonight, and I appreciate every one of you who came out,” said File. “And as I’ve said before, we are especially thankful for the families, because you make sacrifices and live with this, too. Some days are better than others, but we have an amazing team and a supportive community.”

The complete list of those promoted or recognized included:

• Sgt. B.K. Leonard — Promoted to lieutenant over the patrol division.

• Sgt. T.R. Everett — Promoted to lieutenant over support services (investigations, SROs and code enforcement)

• Corporal N.J. O’Brien — Promoted to patrol sergeant

• Officer G.C. Molaro — Promoted to corporal

• Officer T.R. Puckett — Promoted to police officer II

• Officer B.K. Dodson — Promoted to police officer I

• Officer J.P. Nutt — Sworn in as a new patrol officer

• Recognized for certification as a field training officer: Officer A.B. Murph, Corporal G.C. Molaro, and PO II T.R. Puckett

• Recognized for certification as a chemical analyst: PO II B.K. Dodson, Officer A.B. Murph, Corporal G.C. Molaro, PO II T.R. Puckett, Officer J.W. Dryden, Officer A.T. Moore

• Recognized for certification as a N.C. general instructor: Officer C.S. Woodward

Recognized for educational achievement:

• Officer A.B. Murph — Stanly Community College — AAS criminal justice

• SRO C.J. Padgett — University of North Carolina Greensboro — BA sociology/criminal justice

• Officer J.P. Nutt — Pfeiffer University — BS criminal justice

• Officer P.R. Eagle — Davidson County Community College — AAS criminal justice

• Lieutenant B.K. Leonard — North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission — Advanced Law Enforcement Certification

Multiple Officers were awarded for firearms excellence, specifically:

• Corporal G.C. Molaro — Top Gun Award

• PO Lonnie Melton — Top Gun Award

Both achieved 99.7 percent proficiency.

Presentation of Community Service Awards for the response to Hurricane Helene:

• Chief M.J. File

• Lt. B.K. Leonard

• Lt. T.R. Everett

• Detective T.C. Honeycutt

• Chaplain S. Mills

• Officer C.S. Woodward

• Officer J. Howard

• Officer P.R. Eagle

• Officer J.W. Dryden

Industrial Supply Solutions Inc. and Aaron Kesler were also recognized for their response to Hurricane Helene.

Police Commendation Award:

Recognized Officer A.T. Moore and Chaplain S. Mills for their compassion and exemplary service above and beyond the call of duty while responding to a suicidal subject.

Recognized as the 2024 Spencer Police Department Officer of the Year:  PO II T.R. Puckett