NEW DOWNTOWN OFFICER
NO STRANGER TO POSITION

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Downtown Lincolnton officer Kameron Keener (left) chats with Lincolnton resident Lester Eaker during the downtown cruise-in Sunday afternoon.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- For Lincolnton Police officer Kameron Keener, being the new downtown traffic safety officer is more than marking tires and issuing parking tickets.

It's like coming home.

Keener, a 23-year veteran of Lincolnton Police, was recently assigned to be the downtown traffic officer.

Keener said he found out the position was open in September, after former officer Scott Whitesides left to go to work at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

"It was a no-brainer," said Keener. "It was a decision made based on the working hours and the fact it was dayshift. It was in the best interest of my family and self to take the position."

It wasn't the first time Keener has been the downtown traffic safety officer.

Keener's last stint downtown was in August 2000, right before he was promoted to work in the detective division.

And while Keener said detective work was "very interesting" -- he had to investigate a murder his first week -- Keener said his heart is in the downtown district of Lincolnton.

Keener, a police officer since 1984 when Tommy Burgin was police chief, said life in Lincolnton was much different then from now.

"Back in 1984 in Lincolnton, kids cruised town and most of your problems happened after 9 p.m.," said Keener. "During the day and on weekends, the hardest thing you'd do (as an officer) is eat lunch."

Things today, however, seem to be really busy, according to Keener.

"Back then, it was more laid back," said Keener. "It's better then than it is today."

Keener varies his schedule downtown, sometimes starting at 10 a.m. and sometimes starting earlier or later.

After a trip to the Lincoln County Courthouse, Keener starts marking tires on vehicles parked downtown. After tires are marked, he patrols downtown to make a presence.

Unlike his predecessor Bobby Poteat, Keener prefers to walk the beat instead of using the Lincolnton Police gator, unless there is inclement weather.

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Lincolnton Police officer Kameron Keener marks a parked car's tires while on patrol downtown.

"When I came back in September, I had numerous people say they were glad to see me back," said Keener. "They remember me from the time before."

Keener is the third generation of his family to work for the City of Lincolnton. His grandafther, Willey Ramsey, was mayor pro-tem and on the Board of City Alderman (now City Council).

Keener said Ramsey was also the manager of the ABC store.

"When the store was built around 1968 or 1969, he was the manager of it," said Keener. "When he died, my mother, Rita Keener, became the manager. She knew Tommy Burgin and he hired me as a reserve officer in 1984."

Keener said he got interested in law enforcement through his friend at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Todd Mauldin.

"I rode with him on an investigation, and watching him work turned a light on inside of me," said Keener.

While working at Vermont American, Keener learned that then High Shoals Police chief Sam Lockridge was looking for reserve officers.

"While I was at High Shaols Police, I had a year to go through rookie school," said Keener. "I came to Lincolnton after school."


KEENER ON THE BEAT

While he patrols, he marks car tires two hours after the first marking. If he finds a car that has been parked in the same space for more than two hours, he issues the vehicle's owner a ticket.

Fines at one time were $5. Now, parking fines are $20 and can be paid at the Lincolnton Police Department.

Keener said two-hour parking is "the letter of the law downtown."

Keener said many people don't know there is plenty of parking for employees who work downtown. One parking area is west of the James W. Warren Citizens Center. There's also a parking lot off Sycamore Street, near the Lighthouse Christian Bookstore.

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Lincolnton Police officer Kameron Keener takes a moment to pet "Copper" Bostian, while visiting Personal Artist Studio and Gallery owner Laurie Bostian.

Keener said the Lighthouse lot isn't fully utilized because people want the convenience of parking near their jobs.

Another problem Keener is seeing downtown is people who are making u-turns to park in a parking space.

"It's illegal to do that," said Keener. "People are coming up one side of the street and crossing over to park on the opposite side of the street."

To a downtown business, parking spaces for customers is a valuable piece of real estate. One marketing group estimates that each space is worth $17,000 in sales annually to a downtown business.

"Parking spaces are something crucial to these downtown businesses," said Keener. "People who come to court, for example, should park in free parking."

A second problem is something Lincolnton Police may be working on in the near future: pedestrians getting struck in crosswalks.

There have been three pedestrians struck in crosswalks downtown. One of those pedestrians later died; the other two weren't seriously injured.

The latest incident happened Friday afternoon, when a pedestrian in a motorized wheelchair was struck by a vehicle. The pedestrian wasn't injured.

"There may be a crackdown on reckless driving around the Court Square," said Keener. "It's coming."

Over the 23 years of policing in Lincolnton, there are memories that stick out in his mind.

One funny moment happened while Keener was on night patrol. As he was driving through downtown, he thought he saw someone in the front of the R&W Carp Juice building.

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Lincolnton Police officer Kameron Keener prepares to write a parking ticket.

Keener quickly called for back-up and proceeded to the back of the building.

After several officers arrived, they discovered it was a cardboard cutout of NBA superstar Michael Jordan.

"My fellow officers gave me grief about it that night," laughed Keener. "At least I was observant."

Another law enforcement moment for Keener came while he was a detective.

The Bank of America was robbed one day, and Keener was the lead investigator.

The suspect ran behind some buildings on West Water Street, ditching his clothes along the way. Keener found the suspect's clothes....and his wallet, complete with identification.

"We arrested the suspect the next day," said Keener.

Keener, a Lincolnton native, said he remembers back to the time the city limits were at the ABC store.

"Country Club Road wasn't in the city limits," said Keener. "The road to Boger City was only a two-lane road and Plaza Grill once sat on what is now Highway 321."

Keener, who has worked under three police chiefs, says his future retirement depemds on many factors including the economy.

For now, he's happy being downtown Lincolnton's traffic enforcement officer.

"I plan on retiring from this position," said Keener.

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