Mission Statement
"The Mission of the Rockingham Police Department is to enforce the laws and ordinances of the State of North Carolina and the City of Rockingham. By providing quality law enforcement we safeguard lives, enhance community safety, protect property and reduce the impact and fear of crime. Our officers seek and preserve public confidence by impartial observance of the law and by offering service and trust to all members of the public."
The Police Department serves a population of approximately 10,000 citizens in Richmond County. The department has four main divisions: Patrol, Detectives, Communications and Administrative Services.
There are 35 sworn officers, four full-time telecommunicators, one full-time and one part-time administrative assistant. The Detective Division consists of six investigators, two assigned to Narcotics, three to Major Crimes, and one assigned to work in investigating domestic violence offenses.
The Police Department also has three special taskforce teams, including a Traffic Enforcement team, SWAT team and a K-9 team.
If you are interested in finding out more about employment opportunities with the City Of Rockingham Police Department, please visit the employment opportunities page.
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IRS Telephone Scams - December 2014
The Rockingham Police Department has received numerous complaints from citizens targeted by this scam lately.
The IRS has seen a recent increase in local phone scams across the country, with callers pretending to be from the IRS in hopes of stealing money or identities from victims.
These phone scams include many variations, ranging from instances from where callers say the victims owe money or are entitled to a huge refund. Some calls can threaten arrest and threaten a driver’s license revocation. Sometimes these calls are paired with follow-up calls from people saying they are from the local police department or the state motor vehicle department.
Characteristics of these scams can include:
- Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
- Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
- Scammers “spoof” or imitate the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the IRS calling.
- Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
- Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
After threatening victims with jail time or a driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.
In another variation, one sophisticated phone scam has targeted taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country. Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do: If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue.
If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
If you’ve been targeted by these scams, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.
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Wednesday, November, 19, 2014
The Rockingham Police Department received a call this morning from a local business owner who wanted to report a new scam. While the police department has always notified the public about various scams, this one has a new twist . The scammers are attempting to use the name of the Rockingham Police Department to force money from the victims. This is how the scam worked this morning. The business owner received a phone call from someone who said that they were with the IRS and that they needed to pay their back taxes immediately and that they needed to give their debit card number to the caller. The person receiving the call realized it was a scam and hung up. About two minutes later, the same person received a call and the caller I.D. read the Rockingham Police Department and the number was the same as the department's. When the person spoke to the caller, the caller stated that they worked at the Rockingham Police Department and that they had received a fax from the IRS stating that there were warrants for her arrest if she did not pay the taxes. The person realized this was still a scam and hung up. She then called us to report this. It is highly important to understand that no police department, sheriff's department, or other law enforcement agency will ever call you and ask for any type of payment over the phone. Also, there are many ways now to "spoof" your phone number and make it show up as anyone else's. The Rockingham Police Department is asking that anyone that receives this type of phone call to please notify us at 1-910-895-2468 or email Det. Sgt. Donavan Young at dyoung@gorockinghampd.com.
In addition to this scam, the department received a second phone call this morning from a local resident who said he received a letter in the mail from "HOME SERVE USA MANAGEMENT CORPORATION" stating that he owed the City of Rockingham money for "water line usage". Once again this was a scam and involved the scammer using the City of Rockingham's name in some fashion. If you receive such a letter please contact us as well. Also, if you read this story, please "share" it on your own facebook page so we can reach as many people as possible
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Charity Solicitations
Watch out for phone solicitors representing charities -- they may be a scam. Although legitimate charities do make phone calls for donations, the FTC warns that not all the calls you receive will be legitimate.
Always ask for a charity's name, address and phone number before donating. Ask them to send you written information. Then look up the information on the charity yourself and make sure the call you received is legitimate. For example, if you get a call from someone claiming to raise money for your local Fraternal Order of Police, call your local police and ask them if the call was legitimate.
Citizens may check to see if a charity is legitimate by visiting: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0011-charity-scams
The Rockingham Police Department never solicits money from citizens. If you get a call from someone claiming to represent the Police Department please call us immediately to report it.
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| Cpl. Eric Culbreth with a young NNO attendee |
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National Night Out-2014
All images by JT Locklear
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Long Drive Community Project
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| Young Residents Enjoy Hotdogs at Cauthen Drive |
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In the summer of 2014 the Rockingham Police Department partnered with Crown Pointe and Gardenwood Apartments in a joint community policing project. The goal of the project was to bring residents of high crime areas and law enforcement together in an effort to deter crime and provide a more family friendly environment.
Officers with the Rockingham Police Department were assigned to a Command Post inside the apartment complexes this summer to work alongside residents. Interaction with the youth in the community included weekly events, such as movie and popcorn afternoons.
The project concluded with officers, along with complex managers, handing out school supplies, along with hotdogs, chips and refreshments to the young residents. Officers encouraged the youth to remain in school and do well in their academics.
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Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Rockingham Police Department's Chief Billy Kelly and Comm. Supvr. D.J. Asbury
help a young resident with hotdog lunch
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
T.M. Prisk, a telecommunicator with the Rockingham Police Department, helps distribute school supplies on Monday in the E.R. Martin Community Policing Center situated between the Gardenwood and Crown Poine apartment complexes.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
A hot dog is easily washed down with some juice.
The PeeDeePost.com's Kevin Spradlin was present for Monday's event. You may visit the following for the complete article: Cauthen Drive neighborhood still ‘a good place to live’
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Victim Notification Program
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a department of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is committed to protecting the public and ensuring that the rights of victims are observed. The Victim Notification Program allows eligible victims and witnesses to obtain information regarding a criminal alien's release from custody. Victims are required to register with the agency to receive notification. This is for criminal aliens' release only. Please visit the following link for more information on the program: www.ice.gov/victim-notification/
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| 2014 Junior Police Academy Graduates/ Photo by Officer JT Locklear-Rockingham PD |
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JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATES 2014
Featured are some of the graduates of the 2014 class of our Junior Police Academy. Graduation ceremonies were held at National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5th, 2014 at Cole Plaza City Hall. Officiating were Mayor Steve Morris, Councilman Gene Willard, Councilwoman Sullivan, along with Chief Kelly, Captain Grant & Lt. Greene with Rockingham Police Department.
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Junior Police Academy Week July 21st - July 25th 2014 at Rockingham Police Department
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Sgt. Harris & K9 Breston
ROCKINGHAM — Rockingham Police Officer J.A. Gilbert said he volunteered to play the role of suspect for Breston and Sgt. Glen Harris on Thursday afternoon at the former Ed Tull Park.
Visit our JPA page for more info
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CPL. Marcus Ricks Visits With Spanish Class Students
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Cpl Marcus Ricks spoke to Ms Janica's Spanish class students in early December to teach students the importance
of driving safety and the duties of being a police officer in today's society.
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Safe Kids and Rockingham Police Team Up
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Safe Kids N.C. and the Rockingham Police Department informed the public on the temperature difference inside and outside of a hot car on Saturday, Aug. 31, with a public demonstration at the Lowe's Home Improvement store in Rockingham, NC. A vehicle was set with a large thermometer that displayed the outside temperature versus the inside temperature of the car.
The display was used as part of an educational program to remind people to never leave children or pets inside of a vehicle. To read more on this program please visit the Safe Kids website.
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Reports of Counterfeit Monies
Recently the Rockingham Police Department has been receiving reports of counterfeit $20 and $100 bills at local businesses. Some of the fake bills have matching serial numbers, however, some do not. Some of the counterfeits are made by bleaching a $5 bill and copying a one hundred bill onto the treasury money. The pens that are used to check the validity of the bill will then be useless. If you hold the counterfeit bills up to the light you can still see Lincoln on the fake bills. One of the suspects passing the counterfeit $100 bills has been described as a well dressed black male.
If you receive a counterfeit bill, or have questions about the accuracy of a bill, please contact the Rockingham Police Department. Please alert your employees to use all means to verify a bill before accepting it.
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UTILITY BILL SCAM
Watch out for a new scam that touts a federal program that will supposedly pay your utility bills. The program isn't real. Instead, it's a ploy by scammers to steal your personal financial information and your money.
The scammers tell you that to participate in the program you need to provide your Social Security number and bank account information. In return they give you a bank account number that they claim will pay your utility bills-but the information is false and your utility bills haven't really been paid. And now the scammers have all the information they need to steal your money and even open new accounts in your name.
People report that scammers have contacted them about the fake program in person and through flyers, text messages and social media. At least one utility company has already discovered that hundreds of it's customers tried to pay their bills using the phony band account number given out by the scammers.
Never agree to provide your Social Security number, bank account number or other personal financial information to anyone who contacts you, no matter who they claim to be or how they claim they will help you.
If you've been the victim of a scam, file a complaint with the Attorney General's office on their website or call them at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM toll free within North Carolina. And you may also contact Detective Young at Rockingham Police Department (910)895-2468.
www.NCDOJ.GOV
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Fraud & Identity Theft
Are you a victim of fraud? Identity Theft? Internet crimes? If you think you may be a victim of one of these crimes, or if you have questions concerning these crimes, you may contact Detective Young. Listed below are some helpful links to other sites:
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Rockingham Police Department
311 East Franklin St
Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 895-2468
Chief of Police Billy Kelly
Asst Chief Eddie Grant
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Richmond County's new service titled Code Red which notifies citizens via telephone if there is an emergency
happening in their neighborhood. Click Link to signup
for this service.
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| National Night Out 2014 was held August 5th, 2014 at Cole Plaza- City Hall |
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| National Sex Offender Registry |
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| Threat Level Elevated Click Icon for More... |
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| JPA Cadets with Officers of RPD |
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North Carolina's Move Over law protects State Troopers and other law enforcement officers and emergency and utility workers stopped along side our highways.
The Highway Patrol has taken steps to ensure more safety for citizens and troopers. In January, 2002, the state's Move Over law took effect requiring motorists, if they can safely do so, to move one lane away from any law enforcement or other emergency vehicle that is on the side of the highway. This law includes utility vehicles that are on the side of the road restoring electrical service during an unplanned event such as a hurricane or ice storm. The utility vehicles are required to have a flashing amber-colored light.
The law requires motorists slow down and approach cautiously when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the shoulder of the roadway with its lights flashing. Motorists are required to move over to another lane away from the emergency vehicle on a multi-lane highway or slow down on a two lane highway and can do so safely. Motorists must slow down while maintaining a safe speed. G.S. 20-157 (f).
A violation of the move over law will result in a mandatory fine of $250.
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