Locust Police Department

10/14/2026

***LPD IN THE COMMUNITY***

Although the Locust Police Department is a small agency, we are blessed with a significant number of officers well-trained and certified to instruct on a variety of law enforcement and first responder topics.

On Monday, Corporal Eric Fore spent some time with the teachers at Locust Elementary School giving a presentation on first aid involving commercial and improvised tourniquets for critical injuries involving heavy bleeding.

Though we hope this type of first aid will never be needed, we appreciate Corporal Fore's training in that area and his willingness to pass along this practical knowledge to the teachers on a skill that could one day be a life saving measure.

Thank you Corporal Fore!

10/06/2026

FYI

Stanly County V**e Stores

The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting an active, multi-agency investigation involving local v**e stores alongside local, state, and federal partners. Because this is an ongoing and complex operation, full details cannot be released at this time. We appreciate the community’s patience as our deputies and partner agencies work thoroughly. This is a county wide event.

10/02/2026

***LPD OFFICER ADVANCEMENT***

On September 30th, Patrol Officer Jerry D. Wallace was advanced to the achievement rank of PO2 with the department.

Officer Wallace has been with the Locust Police Department for two years after previous stints with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Oakboro Police Department.

The PO2 achievement rank requires two years of service with LPD and hundreds of hours of completed training. Officer Wallace met those training requirements which included specialized courses such as Front Line Supervision, Field Training Officer, and General Instructor. He is also currently in the process of completing training to be a certified CPR instructor.

Officer Wallace led the department in statistical contributions for the 2025 calendar year and he was named a finalist for the Chief Steven "Smitty" Smith Officer of the Year award.

Congratulations Jerry!

09/30/2026

***THE LOCUST POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW HIRING!!!***

Starting Salary Range - $54,000 - $66,400 (See Attached Flyer For Other Salary Potential And Benefits)

The Locust Police Department is currently seeking lateral transfer officers, recent BLET graduates, and current and prospective BLET students for open positions with our department's patrol division.

The Locust Police Department is a community policing oriented law enforcement agency that serves one of the fastest growing cities in North Carolina presenting an exciting opportunity for significant and continued department growth and salary potential. Our department and city put a substantial emphasis on work-life balance, quality of life outside of the job, and professional growth. Apply today if you would like the potential opportunity to work for an agency where YOU matter, YOU are supported, and YOU are appreciated for the difficult job you do!

Check out our attached flyer for salary increase potential and employee benefits!

Additional benefits not listed:

> Substantial off-duty security and traffic detail opportunities to supplement department income!

> New approved police station project is currently in predevelopment! This new station project is planned to meet the needs of our current agency as well as accommodate continued future department growth, and promote officer recruitment and retention!

SCAN the QR code or contact Assistant Chief Kevin O'Connor at [email protected] or 704-888-4744 if you want more information or would like to apply!

SERVING WITH INTEGRITY, LEADING WITH PURPOSE, PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE LPD!

09/29/2026

THE LATEST with the LOCUST POLICE DEPARTMENT

Keeping you updated on some of the criminal activities Locust officers respond to in 2026...... We won't report on every one, but if it's noteworthy, you'll hear about it......even if we're out of breath and realized we've skipped too many cardio days....

***LPD APPREHENDS VEHICLE BREAKING & ENTERING SUSPECT WITH ASSISTANCE BY CABARRUS COUNTY K9 DIVISION AND PARTNER AGENCIES***

On Saturday September 26th at approximately 8:45 pm, Locust officers were dispatched to a vehicle breaking and entering in progress in The Crossroads subdivision.

Locust officers had a 3-minute response time to the area and were able to locate the suspect who fled into the nearby woods. Our friends at the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office were contacted for K9 tracking support and they responded. LPD was also assisted in their search by officers from the Stanfield and Oakboro Police Departments and deputies from the Stanly County Sheriff's Office.

A K9 track was conducted into the wooded area and after a brief track, the suspect Mr. Evan Gwaltney of Stanfield was located and apprehended without incident.

Further investigation revealed that Gwaltney had broken into two vehicles in the subdivision as well as damaged the fence of another residence in the neighborhood.

Gwaltney was transported to Stanly County Jail where he was booked on two felony counts of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, damage to property, and resisting an officer. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

LPD thanks our officers for their efficient response and coordination in their search and for the invaluable assistance provided by our neighboring and partner agencies. A great team effort resulted in justice being served.

09/17/2026

THE LATEST with the LOCUST POLICE DEPARTMENT

Keeping you updated on some of the criminal activities Locust officers respond to in 2026...... We won't report on every one, but if it's noteworthy, you'll hear about it......though we're not complaining that we haven't had to do more of these this year....

***LPD APPREHENDS HABITUAL FELONY LARCENY OFFENDER***

At approximately 3 pm on Wednesday September 16th, Locust officers responded to a larceny in progress at the Locust Wal-Mart. The suspect, well known to Locust officers and detectives was Mr. Marcel Henderson of Columbia, South Carolina who was confronted and apprehended without incident while attempting to conceal close to $1900 in electronics merchandise. At the time, LPD already had active warrants for Henderson's arrest for four prior larcenies that spanned over the last 18 months. Total plus attempted loss of merchandise believed to be taken by Henderson in Locust was in excess of $8000.

At the time of arrest, Henderson also had five other active felony arrest warrants for similar offenses in other jurisdictions in addition to a permanent lifetime ban from all Wal-Mart locations. The approximated total loss to all affected Wal-Mart locations believed to be taken by Henderson is in excess of $100,000.

Henderson was transported to Stanly County Jail where he was served with all felony larceny warrants and associated trespassing charges. He currently remains incarcerated. Henderson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.......though admittedly he has a lot of different courts and jurisdictions he will have to contend with.

The Locust Police Department thanks the Locust Wal-Mart loss prevention team for their vigilance and the stellar working relationship we share, and we thank our officers for their rapid response and safe and professional apprehension of Henderson.

09/17/2026

***ONLINE CRASH REPORTS NOW AVAILABLE***

Have you been involved in a traffic crash inside Locust city limits and need a copy of your report? The Locust Police Department now offers an online resource where you can acquire your crash report without having to contact or stop by our department!

Scan the QR code on the flyer to request a copy of your report!

*NOTE*
The report available through this site is a redacted copy that complies with the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act however it is usually sufficient for insurance claims.

To receive a full certified copy of your crash report, you will need to visit the NC DMV site at:

https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/records-reports/Pages/crash-reports.aspx

Please allow 5-7 business days for your report to be available.

09/11/2026

We would like to thank our friends at Providence Church of God for bringing us lunch today. We greatly appreciate it!

09/11/2026

NEVER FORGET. May we all continue to remember how we felt that day, and how united we became after. And may we teach all those who weren't here what that day meant, and who we need to be as a country. God bless America.