The Southern Pines Police Department is pleased to announce Captain Robert Heaton will be promoted to the rank of deputy chief.
Captain Heaton is a 25-year law enforcement veteran, which includes 14 years at the Southern Pines Police Department. Captain Heaton received his Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University.
Captain Heaton is a graduate of the 294th session of the FBI National Academy, and has completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Supervisory Institute, Command Institute and Executive Institute. Captain Heaton is a graduate of the Administrative Officers Management Program (AOMP) through North Carolina State University.
Over the course of his career, Captain Heaton has completed numerous law enforcement certification programs which include the Criminal Investigation Certificate Program and the Tactical Training Certificate Program. He is a general instructor, driving instructor,
firearms instructor, physical fitness instructor and compliance and control tactics instructor.
Captain Heaton assumed command, control and oversight of the daily operations of the administration division, patrol division, investigation division and directed patrol/special operations.
On Monday, June 1, 2026, Tribe members from District 2 and District 15, the districts surrounding the area currently planned for the casino, met for a community meeting.Amidst the glitz and glamour of the idea of a new casino coming to the Lumbee Tri
This is the fourth year that ETI has hosted the event, and in years past Freeman has seen a host of innovative technology, including various drone types and programming, robotic dogs, 3D printed houses, and airspace scanners. Photo provided by USSOCO
Crystal McLean (left) with Scott Embry (right). Money Box Academy received a $10,000 grant from United Way of Cumberland County’s Youth Growth Stock Trust. Photos provided by Crystal McLean.The Youth Growth Stock Trust Committee, administered by the
