PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 18, 2017
The Southern Pines Police Department
Announces a Property and Evidence Investigation
The Southern Pines Police Department would like to take this opportunity to inform the community of an investigation taking place involving the Property and Evidence Division of the Southern Pines Police Department.
The Southern Pines Police Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). In compliance with nationally published best practice standards for law enforcement, internal audits are frequently conducted of the Department’s Property and Evidence Division. Following a recent audit, irregularities were discovered that warranted further inquiry. To avoid any conflict of interest, and with full transparency, Chief Robert Temme, in consultation with Town officials, requested the assistance of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to conduct an independent investigation, which is currently ongoing.
Upon identifying deficiencies in the routine audit involving money that was stored in evidence, one civilian employee was suspended, and subsequently terminated on Monday, August 14, 2017. Chief Robert Temme offered the following statement addressing this investigation:
“We work hard to earn the trust of our community. This situation is regrettable and something we take seriously. Our transparency and process is a clear indication that we are prepared to police ourselves, and partner with other agencies to ensure that we maintain the integrity of our police services. We are committed to fully cooperating with the SBI to ensure their investigation is thorough. A comprehensive action plan has been implemented as we continue to operate efficiently. Our intention is to keep our community informed of relevant developments throughout the entire process."
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Contact: Captain Charles Campbell
(910) 692-2732
