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K-9 Tango has been working hard lately despite the summer heat wave. Today Lt. Schneider helped him cool of with some ice cream from Main Street Cup and Cone Locust
We are saddened today and our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters at the Locust Police Department as well as the family and friends of Chief Smith. We have lost one of the best for sure.07/22/2020
PRESS RELEASE
It is with the utmost tremendous sadness that the Locust Police Department must officially announce the passing of our Chief of Police, Steven R. “Smitty” Smith. Chief Smith passed away last evening at Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord. Chief Smith was off-duty at the time of his death. He was 45 years old.
Chief Smith was a Locust native who began his career with the Locust Police Department before working tours with the Monroe and Kannapolis Police Departments. He returned to the Locust Police Department in 2007 as a patrol officer. Chief Smith was promoted to the ranks of Sergeant and Captain at the department before being appointed Chief of Police at the end of December 2019. Chief Smith succeeded retiring Locust Chief Frank Hartsell who along with every member of the Locust Police Department endorsed “Smitty” for the position.
Chief Smith was an outstanding decision maker and leader who held an extraordinary vision for the future of the Locust Police Department. In just six months as Chief of Police, “Smitty” had been consistently praised for his performance by the members of the Locust Police Department, Locust city administration as well as the elected members of the City Council of Locust.
Chief Smith was an “officer’s Chief” who was able to combine the perfect mixture of leadership with camaraderie. One of the ideals Chief Smith leaned heavily on was knowing that the patrol division is the heart and soul of a police department, and he knew that the department’s success and how the department would be viewed by the public was dependent on the effectiveness of its patrol officers. Chief Smith’s goal was to develop or enhance the most well-equipped, well-trained, community driven patrol officers possible and every single member of the Locust Police Department responded so positively to that leadership.
“Smitty” was adored by his peers in the Stanly and surrounding county’s law enforcement community as well as by so many members of the Locust community that had known him his entire life. “Smitty” was always a pleasure to be around and one of the most humorous storytellers you would ever meet. Chief always seemed to have the perfect “one-liner” for any occasion. All of the members of the Locust Police Department will miss him so much.
In the coming days and weeks, we ask you to please keep Chief Smith’s wife, children, family, and friends as well as the members of the Locust Police Department in your thoughts and prayers. Funeral arrangements are to be determined.
ARREST 07/12/2020
Earlier today at approximately 2:30 pm a Stanfield Police Officer attempted to make a traffic stop on a motorcycle due to a fictitious registration plate. Mr. Erick Perez fled from the officer for approximately 6 miles on Love Chapel Rd and NC Hwy 200. The officer was able to keep Mr. Perez in sight until his motorcycle ran out of gas about 1 mile inside of Union County on NC Hwy 200 where he was then taken in to custody by the Stanfield Officer. The Stanfield Police Department would like to thank Locust PD, Oakboro PD, and the Union County Sheriff's Office for responding to assist.
Mr. Perez was booked into the Stanly County Jail under a $1,000 secured bond for Felony Flee to Elude, driving while license revoked and numerous other moving violations.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty in court.