The staff
of the Appalachian State University Police underwent some retooling
over the past few weeks as officers received promotions that filled
one lieutenant and three sergeant positions.
“We had one lieutenant leave to join the department of Watauga
County Sheriff Mark Shook,” University Police Chief Gunther
Doerr said. “We also had a sergeant leave for the same reason,
and we had a sergeant that moved back to his hometown in eastern
North Carolina with his family.”
“While filling those positions, we promoted Eddie Cornett to
the rank of lieutenant, and the sergeant position that was left
open by his promotion was filled by Officer T.R. Black,” Doerr
said. “The Crime Prevention Officer position was filled by
Officer Jason Cornett, and the other sergeant position was filled
by Officer Richard Hicks.”
The new Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt. Jason Cornett, will be dealing
directly with students.
This position is designed to address the concerns of students and
to deal with crime in a proactive rather than reactionary way.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Cornett said.
“I’ll be dealing with crime prevention as well as investigations.
Basically, I want to work through the programs we have in place
and the contact tables in the student union to answer any questions
students have.”
Sgt. Eddie Cornett was promoted to the position of lieutenant after
17 years of service to the department as a police officer.
He is to head up Squad A of the university’s patrol units.
“I think I bring stability and experience to the position,”
Cornett said. “In the past, we didn’t have this position,
and I think it’s a good thing the department has done to add
it.”
Officer T.R. Black was awarded the promotion that filled the sergeant
position Cornett vacated. He has been with the department for five
years.
“There is a little bit more responsibility involved with taking
this position,” Black said. “But I think that all our
officers have a lot more responsibility than people realize, not
just sergeants and lieutenants. Everything that we do, we do as
a team, and I think our squad, as well as the other squads, works
well together.”
Officer Richard Hicks was promoted to the rank of sergeant but was
not available for comment.
