When the Wrightsville Beach Police Department of 25 officers was down by as many as 10 officers last summer, the department had a go-to solution for keeping shifts filled, patrols carried out and assignments fulfilled.
Cpl. Gunnar Matthews.
For his efforts, the 25-year police veteran was voted by his peers in the department as the 2016 Wrightsville Beach Police Officer of the Year, chief Dan House announced at Wednesday night’s board of aldermen meeting.
“He’s stepped up and volunteered for just about every assignment that has come up,” House said. “It’s almost a joke how many time he’s change his shift rotation.”
Matthews acknowledged that the staff shortage from 2015 was sometimes “chaotic” and “difficult,” he said making himself available wasn’t an issue for him because of how much he enjoys the job.
“Last summer it got busy and sometimes we got backed up on calls. You’d look forward to getting off,” Matthews said after receiving the award. “But it wasn’t a problem. This is a fantastic place to work.”
Matthews joined the Wrightsville Beach Police Department in 2011 after building his law enforcement career in New Hanover County and other parts of coastal North Carolina. He was promoted to the rank of corporal after completing testing in September 2015, House said.
Matthews came to the department after a short stay at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department, which followed 12 years as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant and captain for the University of North Carolina Wilmington Police Department. While at UNCW, Matthews also served for five years as a special deputy for the sheriff’s department.
“I got to know the people at Wrightsville Beach while I was with the sheriff’s office,” said Matthews, which encouraged him to apply for an opening. “I had heard all these good things about the Wrightsville Beach department.”
Before joining the UNCW police, Matthews began building his police career at North Topsail Beach, where over eight years he served as first assistant police chief before become the town’s chief of police. Matthews still has a connection to North Topsail Beach, where he has served as a volunteer for the fire department for 25 years.
Matthews also volunteers his time at the president of the Wrightsville Beach Police Benevolent Association, a position he earned on a vote from his peers in the department. He also represents the department for the local Fraternal Order of Police.
Originally from Ohio, Matthews graduated from Grimsley Senior High School in Greensboro, N.C. He then joined the U.S. Coast Guard and after an honorable discharge, he earned his associate’s degree from Guilford Technical Community College. He gets his uncommon first name Gunnar from his mother’s Icelandic heritage, he said, adding that he’s visited the island nation four times.
Last month, the Wrightsville Beach Police Department was fully staffed for the first time in more than a year. With several new members on the force, Matthews said he was looking forward to imparting his knowledge and experience to a new generation of law enforcement officers.
“I enjoy talking with them and showing how to apply the old school ways to the new methods of policing,” Matthews said. “I like showing these new officers that there is a better way of doing things.”
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