SUMMERS NAMED NEWEST
LINCOLNTON POLICE SERGEANT

Lincolnton Police Department's newest Sergeant, checks paperwork before going out on the road. Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- He's been a guard for the Department of Corrections in Burke County. He's also worked for both the Burke County Sheriff's Office and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

For the last two years, Spencer Summers has been a recognizable face on the police beat in Lincolnton, patrolling with an easy-going, friendly and professional style.

"He's got the patience and a good attitude," said Summers' supervisor, Lt. Dwite Shehan. "He steps up when he needs to. He's a good officer."

Shehan adds he's glad that Summers made Sergeant. Summers' first official shift as Shehan's Sergeant was Friday, Dec. 12.

Sgt. Spencer Summers picture for The Carolina Scoop's "Arrested Developments." Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS.

Summers said his time in watching inmates at Foothills Correctional Institute in Morganton has paid off in his law enforcement career.

"It was beneficial experience for me because it made me astute in working with people," said Summers. "It's also helped in dealing with people that have mental health problems or issues."

What got Summers interested in law enforcement is talking to a friend of his moms one day.

Spencer said he asked his mom's friend what he did in law enforcement.

Sgt. Spencer Summers checks paperwork after a traffic citation. Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS

"After talking with him, I enrolled into the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) in 1995 at McDowell Technical College.

As he worked during the day, Spencer took classes at night. Summers graduated from BLET in October of 1995.

In 1996, Summers became a reserve officer with the Burke County Sheriff's Office and the rest, as they say, is history.

While on dayshift earlier this year, now Sgt. Spencer Summers makes sure a small mulch fire outside the police department is out. Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS


LINCOLN LAW ENFORCEMENT
It's not the first time Summers has been a Sergeant in law enforcement.

He also seved with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in the same capacity. While Spencer enjoyed being on the road, there was one thing he didn't take to while at the LCSO.

"I really didn't like the office politics," said Summers. "I had my physical for the Lincolnton Police the same day I left the sheriff's office. I joined Lincolnton Police two weeks later."

His first shift was on night shift. Lt. Randy Willis was his first supervisor.

Summers called his time with Lincolnton Police "a love affair."

"We get to do stuff that we were trained to do in BLET like working wrecks," said Summers, adding working at LPD is a "growing process."

After about a year on nights, Spencer moved to the day shift about six months ago. When he heard there was a Sergeant's position that had come open, he was one of two officers that put their names in "the hat" for the position.

Spencer said he likes working nights.

"We get a lot done," said Summers, adding there's good comaraderie amongst himself and his fellow officers. "It's great when everyone works together."

Summers also thinks it was a good move when Lincolnton Police started carrying tasers.

"That was a huge implementation for the department," said Summers. "They're beneficial because after five seconds, the pain subsides. All of our officers use good judgement regarding the use of the tasers."

In his two years on the force, Summers remembers one call at the Petro Express, in front of Lowe's Hardware.

It was the night the Petro was robbed. According to Spencer, the team concept came through big time.

"We located those guys and took them back to the store," said Summers. "We got almost all the money back as well as we got all of the customer's personal property back. Everyone worked together and went home at the end of the shift."

Summers said that's his goal as a Sergeant: making sure everyone on his watch is safe.

"That's the whole idea," said Summers. "We all go home at the end of the day."