North Carolina Town's Entire Department on Paid Administrative Leave
The entire force on the Southport (NC) Police Department have been suspended and placed on paid administrative leave after the chief and a lieutenant were arrested "and charged with double-dipping at a second job while on the clock at the police department."
The entire force on the Southport (NC) Police Department have been suspended and placed on paid administrative leave after the chief and a lieutenant were arrested "and charged with double-dipping at a second job while on the clock at the police department," according to WECT-TV.
Chief Gary Smith and Lieutenant Michael Christian Simmons were "charged with conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses, willful failure to discharge duties, and obstruction of justice," according to reports.
State investigators said Smith and Simmons were driving overnight shifts for an unnamed local trucking company during the same hours they had claimed on their daily activity reports for the Southport Police Department.
District Attorney Jon David said that although all police have been temporarily suspended, the public should not assume that all are guilty of misconduct, and that the investigation continues. David added that some of the officers who are now suspended were, in fact, the whistleblowers who alerted him to the problem.
"A lot of these officers have done absolutely nothing wrong. Some of them are the ones that first came forward," David said. "This stain should not be extended to the officers who take seriously their duty to serve and protect."
More Command

How Smart Fleet Technology Is Transforming Police Operations
Police agencies are leveraging fleet data to reduce collisions, improve officer safety, control maintenance costs, and strengthen public accountability. This ebook explores how modern telematics and fleet management technology are helping departments operate more efficiently while maximizing taxpayer resources.
Read More →
NEOGOV Acquires Off-Duty Law Enforcement Software Platform PowerDetails
With the acquisition of PowerDetails, NEOGOV expands its footprint within public safety agencies to offer both on-duty and off-duty scheduling.
Read More →
FBI-LEEDA Launches Inaugural Five Star Chief Executive Institute
FBI-LEEDA’s recently-launched Five Star Chief Executive Institute is a two-week executive program that equips senior law enforcement leaders with strategic skills for modern policing.
Read More →
Why Police Leaders Must Champion Parking Enforcement
For police and transportation departments, traditional parking enforcement exposes officers to risk, such as standing on busy roads to issue paper tickets or catching offenders in dangerous, congested areas. Modern technology changes this, reducing exposure, speeding processes, and limiting confrontations.
Read More →More IACP 2025 From the Show Floor
Watch expanded coverage of IACP 2025 as the POLICE Magazine team walks the aisles at the expo and shares what we found interesting on display for chiefs from across the country and around the world this week in Denver, Colorado.
Read More →IACP 2025 - From the Show Floor
Take a look inside the expo at IACP 2025 to see a sampling of what is displayed for chiefs from across the country and around the world this week in Denver, Colorado.
Read More →
Pro-gard Expands Law Enforcement Vehicle Protection and Transport Solutions
Pro-gard has introduced HD Fender and Headlight Wraps for added front-end protection and a new P1300 Pro-Cell transport system for Ford F-150 and Super Duty models.
Read More →
COPS Teams With The Wounded Blue To Help Injured And Disabled Law Enforcement Officers And Their Families
Free officer-wellness training comes to Las Vegas Sept. 22–25: The Wounded Blue’s 5th Annual National Law Enforcement Survival Summit opens registration.
Read More →
Video: Officer Crawls Across Ladder to Rescue Family from Floodwaters
When floodwaters overturned a vehicle in rural New Mexico, Officer Walker Eby risked his life—crawling over raging currents on a ladder—to rescue a woman, her child, and their dog.
Read More →
Ahmedabad, India, to Host 2029 World Police & Fire Games
Birmingham, Alabama, hosted the 2025 World Police & Fire Games, and Ahmedabad, India, has been announced as the host city for 2029.
Read More →