VAUGHN NAMED OFFICER OF THE MONTH
Exclusive Video of Award Presentation

By Jon Mayhew


LINCOLNTON -- Lincolnton Police Sgt. Willie Vaughn was named The Carolina Scoop and Fatz Cafe's Officer of the Month on Wednesday.

Vaughn received a certificate and a Fatz Cafe gift certificate in the amout of $25.

The Carolina Scoop's general manager Elizabeth Mayhew said choosing Vaughn for this month's award was easy.

"It seems like he's everywhere," said Mayhew. "Not only does he hand out warrants, he backs his fellow officers up. He's everywhere. There isn't a place in Lincolnton that you can go where you don't run into Willie."

Vaughn is so helpful, he's even lent his creative services to The Carolina Scoop, offering to change the logo from "giving the readers the whole story, fair and truthful" to something he feels is more palatable to the reader.

"How about 'faster than gossip and more reliable?'," said Vaughn.

Friendliness, Golden Rule Keys to Vaughn's Success

If you see the smiling countenance of Lincolnton Police officer Sgt. Willie Vaughn, then you may be in trouble. That's according to LPD chief Dean Abernathy, who calls Vaughn "a go-getter."

According to Abernathy, Vaughn took it upon himself to be responsible for serving warrants, including summons and orders for arrest.

"He's a hard worker," said Abernathy. "If you see Willie, then you know you're in trouble."



Vaughn has been patrolling the streets of Lincolnton – when he's not serving warrants -- since March of 1993, minus a two-year stint as a school resource officer at Lincolnton High School with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

Prior to becoming a police officer, Vaughn was a produce maven for grocery store chain Food Lion, traveling to stores to help with merchandising fruits and vegetables. Vaughn's grocery store career ended some 10-to-12 years later in management for Winn-Dixie.

"I remember that I was sent to the Belmont store, and that department was on the bottom of the list," said Vaughn. "I had it in the top five in three months."

Vaughn decided in the early 90s to trade bananas and lettuce for a revolver and badge, as he went to rookie police school in 1992. It's a decision he doesn't regret in the least. Law enforcement, it seems, is something that runs in the Vaughn family.

"I had family and friends who were cops," said Vaughn, adding the term "cops" is something he feels isn't derogatory. "That stands for Constable On Patrol."

Two huge influences were insturmental in Vaughn becoming a police officer; his dad, who was on the Gaston County Police force, and now-retired colleague Bobby Poteat.

Poteat said he remembers when he first met Vaughn as a Mt. Holly Police officer.

"I pulled up where Willie was and he'd want to ride," said Poteat. "I took him and let him ride around with me."

Vaughn, meantime, called Poteat "one of my inspirations."

"I've known Bobby since I was six or seven," said Vaughn "He's one of the many officers I've gotten to know over the years."