Wednesday, February 03, 2010 12:00 AM
Chief Ron Hines
By Karissa
Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
East Spencer Police Chief Ron Hines was given a Governor's Award at the Town of East Spencer board meeting Monday.
The award was presented by East Spencer Mayor John Cowan.
"I can't think of one person who is more deserving of this award than Chief Hines," Cowan said in an interview Tuesday. "He is a great asset to the police department and to the town of East Spencer."
Hines said that he couldn't believe he had received such a distinction.
"I'm very honored to be given an award by the governor," he said. "I'm thankful that I was looked at for the award."
Cowan said that since the fall of 2008, Hines has improved morale in the police department, taken a proactive approach to law enforcement and been very active in the community.
Gov. Bev Perdue sent Hines a letter commending him for his service to the people of East Spencer.
"You have served as police chief with honor and distinction, protecting the citizens of your town and beyond," Perdue stated.
Lt. Floyd Baldo of the East Spencer Police Department said that Hines was "more than deserving" of the award. He and several others called the governor's office to nominate him.
"His commitment to excellence and his job are unmatched by any other department head I have ever met," Baldo said. "Chief Hines is constantly looking for ways to better the police department in East Spencer and give the citizens the best agency they ever had."
He said that when the town was short on officers, Hines worked 19 consecutive shifts of more than 12 hours.
"He does so much administrative stuff that it's amazing that he's actually had time to go out there," he said. "As soon as calls come out, he's usually one of the first ones out there to try to diffuse the situation."
Hines has risked his life to subdue and save armed perpetrators, Baldo said, including the former mayor of Spencer. He has chased down suspects on foot, one time injuring his leg but continuing until he had the person in custody.
Baldo said when the town administrator had a stroke, Hines found him and got medical treatment in time to save his life.
During his time as police chief, Hines has helped add more officers through grants and other means, Baldo said. The department used to have only three full-time officers. Now it has six, and that number soon will increase to eight.
"I really do love this town, especially the citizens," Hines said. "It's a great place to work."
Also at Monday's meeting, East Spencer hired Jeff Morris as the new town attorney after a two-month search.
"As the new mayor, I felt the need to have someone who shared a similar vision as I have for the town of East Spencer," Cowan said. "I needed a visionary, and Jeff Morris was the man."
kminn@salisburypost.com
East Spencer Police Chief Ron Hines was given a Governor's Award at the Town of East Spencer board meeting Monday.
The award was presented by East Spencer Mayor John Cowan.
"I can't think of one person who is more deserving of this award than Chief Hines," Cowan said in an interview Tuesday. "He is a great asset to the police department and to the town of East Spencer."
Hines said that he couldn't believe he had received such a distinction.
"I'm very honored to be given an award by the governor," he said. "I'm thankful that I was looked at for the award."
Cowan said that since the fall of 2008, Hines has improved morale in the police department, taken a proactive approach to law enforcement and been very active in the community.
Gov. Bev Perdue sent Hines a letter commending him for his service to the people of East Spencer.
"You have served as police chief with honor and distinction, protecting the citizens of your town and beyond," Perdue stated.
Lt. Floyd Baldo of the East Spencer Police Department said that Hines was "more than deserving" of the award. He and several others called the governor's office to nominate him.
"His commitment to excellence and his job are unmatched by any other department head I have ever met," Baldo said. "Chief Hines is constantly looking for ways to better the police department in East Spencer and give the citizens the best agency they ever had."
He said that when the town was short on officers, Hines worked 19 consecutive shifts of more than 12 hours.
"He does so much administrative stuff that it's amazing that he's actually had time to go out there," he said. "As soon as calls come out, he's usually one of the first ones out there to try to diffuse the situation."
Hines has risked his life to subdue and save armed perpetrators, Baldo said, including the former mayor of Spencer. He has chased down suspects on foot, one time injuring his leg but continuing until he had the person in custody.
Baldo said when the town administrator had a stroke, Hines found him and got medical treatment in time to save his life.
During his time as police chief, Hines has helped add more officers through grants and other means, Baldo said. The department used to have only three full-time officers. Now it has six, and that number soon will increase to eight.
"I really do love this town, especially the citizens," Hines said. "It's a great place to work."
Also at Monday's meeting, East Spencer hired Jeff Morris as the new town attorney after a two-month search.
"As the new mayor, I felt the need to have someone who shared a similar vision as I have for the town of East Spencer," Cowan said. "I needed a visionary, and Jeff Morris was the man."
