Credit: Summer Herlocker Photography
LOCUST POLICE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION
Chief of Police Jeff B. Shew
Chief Shew has been employed with the City of Locust since July, 2009. Born and raised in the Brunswick County city of Boiling Spring Lakes, Chief Shew relocated to the Stanly County area in 2007 and he completed Basic Law Enforcement Training at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in 2008. Chief Shew worked as a patrol officer with LPD until 2015 where he was moved to the position of detective and promoted to the rank of detective sergeant until the end of 2019. In January 2020, Chief Shew was promoted to the assistant chief of police position until the unexpected passing of Chief Steven “Smitty” Smith in July 2020. After serving as interim chief of police following Chief Smith’s passing, Chief Shew was named chief of police for the department in September, 2020.
While employed with the Locust Police Department, Chief Shew graduated with an AAS in Criminal Justice from Stanly Community College in 2014. He was also recognized as a program Outstanding Graduate and was awarded the Edward J. Snyder Exceptional Scholar award. Chief Shew also graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Western Carolina University in 2017. Chief Shew completed South Piedmont Community College’s Law Enforcement Management Academy in 2019. He is also certified as a general instructor of law enforcement courses by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. The commission awarded Chief Shew the Intermediate Law Enforcement Certification in 2014 and the Advanced Law Enforcement Certification in 2018. Chief Shew was named a finalist for Stanly County Officer of the Year in 2013 by the Officer Jeff Shelton Foundation. In 2014, the foundation awarded him the officer nominated “Got Your Six” award and he was a co-recipient of the community nominated “Everyday Hero” award.
As chief of police, Chief Shew is responsible for overseeing overall department direction, policy and program development, budget planning, and day to day operations. Other duties include coordinating department public and media relations, and production and analysis of department activity and statistics reports.
Assistant Chief of Police Kevin R. O’Connor
Assistant Chief O’Connor has been employed with the City of Locust since April, 2012. Born and raised in Mattituck, New York, Chief O’Connor relocated to North Carolina in 2004 and he completed Basic Law Enforcement Training at Central Piedmont Community College in 2006. Chief O’Connor worked as a patrol officer with LPD until 2018 where he was promoted to the rank of patrol sergeant. In January 2020, he was moved to the role of detective sergeant until the unexpected passing of Chief Steven “Smitty” Smith in July 2020. After serving as interim assistant chief of police following Chief Smith’s passing, Chief O’Connor was named assistant chief of police for the department by Chief of Police Jeff Shew in September, 2020.
Chief O’Connor graduated with a BA in Business Management from Five Towns College in 2003. Chief O’Connor completed South Piedmont Community College’s Law Enforcement Management Academy in 2020. He is also certified as a general instructor of law enforcement courses by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and also as a certified Taser instructor. The commission has also awarded Chief O’Connor the Intermediate and Advanced Law Enforcement Certification. Chief O’Connor is the co-founder and coordinator for Locust Police Department’s “Shop With A Cop” program, and he was a co-recipient of the community nominated “Everyday Hero” award by the Officer Jeff Shelton Foundation in 2016.
As assistant chief of police, Chief O’Connor is responsible for assisting Chief Shew with overall department direction, policy and program development, budget planning, and day to day operations. Other duties include coordinating and overseeing department training, and overseeing the department’s investigations division.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF
Welcome to the City of Locust……a place known by the motto “A City With A Soul”. At the Locust Police Department we honor that motto by taking great pride and diligence in our thorough efforts providing the greatest service and protection to our city residents and visitors to the absolute best of our abilities while emphasizing a focus on community policing.
We take the enforcement of North Carolina statutes very seriously and always utilize a firm but fair approach to those who violate those laws inside our city. At the same time, we are part of the Locust community and we take an equally extensive approach in building relationships by knowing and working with the businesses and residents of our city to achieve the mutually beneficial result of safety and a wonderful place to live, work, and play!
My personal motto for our officers is “Always do good work, and always do it the right way”. We achieve that result by relentlessly pursuing justice for victims of criminal activity, firm and fair enforcement of laws and statutes, and by treating everyone we encounter as respectfully as possible with the highest regard for their ethical treatment at all times.
I hope that you enjoy all this wonderful city has to offer……either as a resident or a visitor, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you ever have a question or concern. We are so glad that you are here!
Sincerely,
Jeff B. Shew
Chief of Police
(704)888-4744
LOCUST POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF LOCUST AND ITS CITIZENS:
- 24 hour, 365 day service and protection for the City of Locust, its citizens and visitors.
- Regular day and night patrols of Locust businesses and neighborhoods.
- Law enforcement of North Carolina statutes as well as Locust city ordinances.
- Traffic enforcement of Locust streets and highways.
- Special residence checks or business patrols upon request.
- Crime prevention and advisory e-mail list. Citizens can be added upon their request.
- Monthly newsletter to keep citizens informed of activities in Locust available on the LPD website or through e-mail list.
- Neighborhood Watch programs available and initiated upon neighborhood interest and request.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Locust Police Department is to provide efficient and professional service and protection to both the citizens and visitors of the City of Locust. Our mission is accomplished by partnering with all of the members of our community to address concerns, and by working together to prevent and combat criminal activity. Our mission is accomplished through the prompt response to citizens and visitors in need, or those who have been victims of criminal activity. Our mission is accomplished through the proper and just enforcement of North Carolina general statutes. And our mission is accomplished through the fair and ethical treatment of all citizens, visitors, suspects, and violators at all times.
LOCUST POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
- STANLY/CABARRUS COUNTY EMERGENCY
911 - STANLY COUNTY NON-EMERGENCY
(704) 986-3700 - CABARRUS COUNTY NON-EMERGENCY
(704) 920-3000 - LOCUST POLICE DEPARTMENT
(704) 888-4744
186 RAY KENNEDY DR. LOCUST, NC 28097 - LOCUST POLICE CRIME ALERT MAILING LIST REQUEST/ INFORMATION REQUEST:
E-MAIL CHIEF SHEW AT jbshew@locustnc.gov
