Waters: “I hope I live up to your expectations”
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
HAMLET — Scott Waters is about faith, family and community.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Hamlet Police Chief Scott Waters takes the oath of office from City Clerk Tammy Kirkley on Monday with wife Laurie, his three daughters and police officers and emergency dispatchers behind him.
He made that abundantly clear in front of dozens of supporters late Monday morning as he was sworn in as chief of the Hamlet Police Department by City Clerk Tammy Kirkley. As Waters held his right hand high and placed his left hand on the Bible given to him and his wife, Laurie McRae Waters, when they married 22 years ago, he completed his oath of office without a hiccup in recitation from Kirkley’s prepared text.
Beside Laurie Waters stood the couple’s three daughters, Kaylin, Emily and Leah.
Waters takes the place of interim chief Capt. Rodney Tucker, who resigned earlier this month to take a position with the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office. Tucker was appointed in May as a temporary fill-in for retiring Chief Amery Griffin. Griffin announced in early May he planned to retire at the end of the month. Griffin was promoted in the summer of 2012 to chief from captain to replace former chief John Haywood.
City officials hope the appointment, announced Friday, will bring stability to a a key leadership position in the city of 6,500 people.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Former Hamlet Police Chief Terry Moore, right, pins on the badge he wore as chief when he hired Scott Waters as a patrol officer in 1991.
“I ask that you don’t stop praying,” Waters told the packed City Council meeting room. “I’m going to do my very best to make you proud. I hope I live up to your expectations.”
He has lived up to every bit of his potential according to many in attendance, including former Hamlet Chief Terry Moore. Moore pinned on Waters the same badge he wore as chief 23 years ago when Moore first hired Waters in 1991. Waters thanked Moore for his support, and that of former chiefs Robert Bristow, Haywood and Griffin.
He also expressed gratitude for those who passed away too soon to see his promotion: his father, Weldon Waters, who played a critical role in Waters joining the public safety sector; his brother, Larry Lovin, whose Nov. 17 anniversary of his death happened to be the same day this year on which Waters underwent the scrutiny of the assessment panel for the position of chief; and the late James “J.J.” Jackson Jr., who died on Feb. 19 at the age of 72 after more than 32 years with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Waters also recognized Sheriff James Clemmons Jr., Rockingham Police Chief Billy Kelly, Dobbins Heights Mayor Antonio Blue and many others.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
“They won’t find anyone that loves this city more than Scott,” said his wife, Laurie. “He’s always been there.”
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