A New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office captain who will retire this week after more than three decades of local law enforcement service said that over the years, area police have kept pace with the changes in the community.
Capt. Clarence Hayes, who retires this week after 33 years with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, said that local law enforcement efforts have adjusted with the county’s growing population over the years, helping avoid the strife seen recently between police and the community in places like Ferguson, Missouri.
“In New Hanover County, we don’t have the same kind of problems that other areas are seeing because the sheriff’s office has moved at the same pace as the progression of crime,” Hayes said. “Law enforcement is evolving along with the citizens. The community and law enforcement have matured together.”
Hayes was recently honored by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners for his successful law-enforcement career, which began in March 1983. Hayes joined the sheriff’s office as an undercover drug enforcement detective setting up drug busts before moving up the ranks of the department.
New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon said Hayes has “touched thousands of cases” and has been directly responsible for sending dangerous individuals to prison.
“He has truly kept this community safer in the 33 years he has worked for the sheriff’s office,” McMahon said. “It will be difficult to replace the body of knowledge and experience that Captain Hayes possesses, but we wish him well and hope he enjoys his well-deserved retirement.”
Hayes said that over his career, he learned to study the mindset of criminals, while also staying emotionally detached from the incident. His cases have spanned the range of crimes, from shoplifting to homicide, including work as an investigator in the 2009 shooting death of Alton Corey Vann. In June, Larry Karl Gonzales, 53, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter after being charged in the shooting.
“They all do it for a reason. You have to think from their point of view and question why the crime was committed,” Hayes said. “There’s generally not a lot of difficulty figuring out who committed the crime. There’s difficulty in proving it.”
Hayes concludes his law-enforcement career as a commander of the vice and narcotics division, but not before serving in a variety of assignments, including patrol, criminal investigations, corrections and support services.
Chris Coudriet, New Hanover County manager, said Hayes has an “uncanny ability” to talk with anyone about any topic. This worked well for him as an investigator.
“He always put the citizens first, making sure he never compromised his morals, his ethics or eroded the trust people had in him,” Coudriet said.
For his part, Hayes said he was looking forward to taking up new hobbies and spending more time with family.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, but I’ve done all the law enforcement that I’ve wanted to do,” he said.
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