Carthage Police Chief Resigns
Carthage Police Chief Chris McKenzie official photo
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Carthage Chief of Police Chris McKenzie is leaving his hometown.
He resigned by letter suggesting the town hire his second-in-command as successor.
McKenzie was thrust into national prominence in 2009 when a shotgun-wielding estranged husband shot ten people in a nursing home, killing eight and wounding two. One of the wounded was an officer on McKenzie's force.
Officer Justin Garner responded to "shots fired" calls and went without waiting for backup to Pinelake Health and Rehabilitation Center where he faced Robert Kenneth Stewart in a hallway gunfight and ended the rampage with a single shot.
Stewart is now on trial facing eight capital counts of first-degree murder. Jury selection is under way in Stanly County, with trial to follow in Carthage. McKenzie and Garner are among many expected to testify.
The two appeared on NBC's "Today" and have since made many trips to train other law enforcement officers based on the Carthage model. Garner resigned to enter training for the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Now the chief is going, though his letter only says he and his family are moving. He had many offers over the years since Pinelake, but Carthage was hometown, and both he and his wife have many family in the area.
McKenzie strongly endorsed Bart Davis, his second-in-command at the Carthage Police Force, as his personal recommendation for the next chief of police.
McKenzie attended Union Pines High School, Sandhills Community College and Central Carolina Community College.
McKenzie served with the North Carolina Army National Guard from 1989 until 1995. He was an M-1 Abrams tank gunner and was named National Guardsman of the year for rank E-1 to E-3 in 1991.
He spent six years stationed in Fort Knox, KY., Fort Hood, TX. and Fort Bragg, N.C. The chief graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training (B.L.E.T.) in June of 1991 and began his career as a reserve patrol officer for the City of Troy, N.C.
In June of 1992 he was hired by the Pinehurst Police Department where he spent four years as a patrol officer. During his time as a patrolman he trained numerous newly hired officers and was promoted to Corporal in 1996.
In 1998 McKenzie transferred to the Moore County Alcohol Beverage Control Law Enforcement Division as a Moore County A.B.C. Agent. While working with the Moore County A.B.C. Board he assisted in the development and implementation of a training program for all servers of alcohol called Responsible Alcohol Sales Education (R.A.S.E.).
This training educated servers of alcohol on the legal and civil aspects of their profession and the penalties for failing to do it correctly. McKenzie achieved his general instructor’s certification and also began teaching in the local law enforcement training academy. In January of 2000 he transferred to the Carthage Police Department as Lieutenant over the patrol and investigative divisions where he attained his advanced law enforcement certificate.
McKenzie was promoted to chief of police after the retirement of Chief Craig Goodnight in Feb. 2002.
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Comments
None 1 year, 10 months ago
There is no question in anyone's mind that Chief McKenzie is a professional law enforcement officer. His accomplishments are revered by most in the law enforcement community. One statement regarding his educational accomplishments is deceptive:
http://www.almedauniversityscam.com/almedascam3.html
Alemda University is a diploma mill that sells degrees on worthless paper. One can understand why he may have resigned. Sadly, there are too many diploma scams out there for the uninformed.
None 1 year, 10 months ago
Please clarify your post. Are you speculating that he may have resigned because of where he got his Bachelor and Master's degrees from? Surely not. The link you provided takes you to someone obviously disgruntled with Almeda and has a biased agenda.
The link to their actual site is: http://www.almedauniversity.org/
I have no idea as to the quality of the education provided by them and I agree there are probably some scams "out there", but I'm not sure of the relationship between that and the Chief's resignation.
None 1 year, 10 months ago
Take your pick: http://online.degree.net/accredited-unaccredited-state-approved-diploma-mill/t-beware-of-almeda-college-almeda-university-fake-scam-27.html
"Two Naples, Fla. cops fired in 2006 for putting Almeda degrees on their resumes in hopes of promotion were reinstated in September. "Why we had to jump through the hoops that we did for the last few years is beyond me," one of the cops, Sgt. Joe Popka, told the Naples News, not particularly contritely. "The only place it's going to live is on the Internet, I suppose," he told the paper. Still, a LinkedIn search shows 23 people citing Almeda on their credentials, including the managing director of a leading hotel in Shanghai, China".
The bottom line here is some people buy a degree while others earn their degrees. Almeda is a scam and diploma mill. the previous link I posted by a paper written by University Professors - not someone disgruntled with Alemda University.
CNMT 1 year, 10 months ago
None - you must have read a different version of the article than I am reading here. I see nothing in this article about Almeda University. I also saw nothing that leads me to believe it has anything to do with his resignation. I am wondering where you got your information????
TallShadow 1 year, 10 months ago
It looks like the original article was edited to remove any mention of a masters from Almeda. This information was probably taken from the Carthage PD website.
witness2 1 year, 10 months ago
Chief McKenzie will be missed. He is a very dedicated law enforcement officer and Chief. He reflects a high standard of professionalism and is always willing to help out others. Best wishes to Chief McKenzie but we will miss him here in our area. And as said earlier, I am certain his degree has nothing to do with his resignation. I am certain he has a better career to go to. Some folks are jealous of those who are more qualified for a profession thus look for any opportunity to cut them down. Who in their right mind would research another persons college? Probably someone who has no formal education themselves.
Bflat 1 year, 10 months ago
After reading the article, I went to the Carthage PD website and it states a BA and MA in Criminal Justice from Almeda University as McKenzie's credentials.. In no way does my research of this FACT have anything to do with jealousy or lack of formal education. All 3 of my degrees are from classroom attendance;one is from a major NC University. There is a distinct difference in speculation and facts. Those with a formal education can and do check out the facts. This is in no way showing any disrespect for the job McKenzie has done.
Mooremom 1 year, 10 months ago
Chris has served the Town of Carthage with respect, courage, professionalism and a passion to make Carthage a better place to live. I want thank him and his family for their service to our town and for his always willing to take time to talk with my son in I when we visited the PD. Not may people can have such an in-depth conversation about the “unknown”. Good luck to you and you family Chris! You deserve the very best that life has to offer. God Bless!
deidretg 1 year, 10 months ago
Best wishes to Chris McKenzie in his future. I have known him since the days when he was a young young soldier in the NC Army National Guard and a member of the Southern Pines Unit. I was a M1A1 Tank Commander there for more than a decade covering most of the 1990's until 2003 and Chris served as an outstanding member of my tank crew during the early portion of those years. His legacy will always include his highly professional handling of the Retirement Home shootings that were in the national spotlight in 2009. God Bless You, Chris.
None 1 year, 10 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
None 1 year, 10 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
theunit 1 year, 10 months ago
He may be a great guy. But Almeda University is a diploma mill. PERIOD.He should not make claim to having a level of edcuation that he does not have. That make’s him disingenuous to say the least. Anyone reading this story can get a Master’s from this diploma mill and the many of them out there, if they are willing to pay, without any academic standards. A Florida police chief was recently prosecuted for taking educational incentive pay from Florida with his bogus degree. I don’t understand his thinking.The Carthage police chief, was fine without this phony degree. Last, the outgoing police chief should not be telling the town who to hire to take his place. Let the manager and council make this choice.
Carthagemomof5 1 year, 10 months ago
I believe it is quite customary and not uncommon for a chief of police to suggest his/her successor. I know the town manager and town counsel care very deeply what is best for the Town of Carthage and its citizens. I strongly believe they will only offer this position to whom they feel is best qualified and whom they know will serve our community with the utmost pride, integrity, and professionalism. I also wish Chief McKenzie and his family the best of luck in their new endeavors. He will be missed.
theunit 1 year, 10 months ago
I suppose you believe it is also quite customary for a 10 person police department to have a police chief, a major and 2 sergeants…extreme elaborate titles for department of this size don’t you think?
starman 1 year, 10 months ago
No, I don't. It doesn't matter if you have a 10 man department or a 100 man department, you have to have structure. You obviously have a problem with law enforcement. You have gone on about the Pinehurst police and now Carthage. I know Chris and he is definitely a very good officer and person. Bart Davis has been second in command at Carthage ever since Chris has been there. He would do a great job. Chris, enjoy your new career and GOD bless you.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 10 months ago
I don't much care where or even if Chief McKenzie went to college. He's run a good, professional department. I may not always agree with them, mind you, but they've always been pros about it.
Good luck to him and his family. I think Bart Davis will do a good job as well.
smarti 1 year, 10 months ago
Sad as it is to say, no one can put trust on any degree that was earned entirely online. I know of a person right now that is 3 classes away from a Bachelor's degree, all taken online by their spouse, using their name. Of course it will tell when it comes to using these skills in a workplace. Obviously this police chief did have other credentials without the degree, whether it is phony or not. Good luck to him and his family in their new opportunities.
MikeNC 1 year, 10 months ago
Thanks for your service Chief. You have done more than your part on several fronts. Best of luck to you and family with your upcoming plans....Mike
skylinefirepest 1 year, 10 months ago
I've done photography for law enforcement for over twenty years so I've gotten to know quite a few officers. I've known Chris for years and I know Carthage will hate to see him go. He has run a good show and I'm sure that the town council will take his recommendations for a replacement quite seriously...as they should. Good luck and take care, Chris!!
clbvpm 1 year, 10 months ago
The article also states the Chief attended Sandhills Community College and Central Carolina Community College. These are both fine schools. To be a sworn officer in North Carolina a person must only complete the BLET course. This is only a certificate program. So, he has attended college other than online diploma mills.
I had the opportunity to work with the Chief on several occasions and found him to be knowledgable, professional and most helpful. I also agree with his recommendation for Bart Davis as his replacement. He is well qualified to fill the position.
Congratulations to Chief McKenzie on his successful career as Chief of Police for Carthage and on his service to the people of the community. Best wished to him and his family as they embark on new ventures.
clinteastwood 1 year, 10 months ago
Chief Mckenzie will be missed here in Carthage. He is a fine person and a good police chief. As a business owner in the town of Carthage he has helped me in many ways. His department has fine officers as well. Best of luck to him in his future endeavors. As for THE UNIT.. shut your mouth everyone in the county is tired of reading your post.. you wont get the job at carthage as the chief ethier, seems to be your only strategy is bad mouthing current chiefs on the pilot website. coward.
olebaldy 1 year, 10 months ago
Well said Clint.