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FIRST ON WITN: New Belhaven Police Chief

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Posted: 9:44 PM Jul 14, 2008
Last Updated: 11:48 PM Jul 14, 2008
Reporter: Dave Jordan

36 comments

A | A | A

After a four month search the town of Belhaven in Beaufort County has a new police chief.

Mayor Adam O'Neal introduced the new police chief, Frederick Clingenpeel, at the regular council meeting Monday night.

This new hire comes after O'Neal suddenly fired chief George Hayden and Lt. Josh Hopkins back in March. Since then, the town has been turned upside down. The former officers are appealing their dismissal and even taking their case to court.

Oneal and Clingenpeel hope to put the past police problems behind them and focus on the job at hand. Clingenpeel says, "I want to focus on improving our relationships in the community and engage the community with positive growth." O'Neal says, "The council had the courage to do what needed to be done and put us on a new path as far as community policing goes."

Clingenpeel will be sworn in as soon as the Department of Justice finalizes his certification. Before moving to Belhaven, Clingenpeel was with the New Hanover county sheriffs office for 15 years.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: No McBush. Location: Swansboro on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:54 PM
Belhaven is a joke of a town. Stop fooling yourselves. Friends dont let friends go to Belhaven. Write that down.

Posted by: BelhavenDude Location: Belhaven, NC on Aug 12, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Having met and talked to the new Chief, the man is a true pro at police work with credentials to prove it.

POST EDITED

Posted by: Jerry Springer Location: Belhaven on Jul 19, 2008 at 02:32 PM
To Anonymous... Who cares what you think about the posting up here. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion(s). This website is for all to express there views etc.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Post edited for flamming.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Belhaven on Jul 18, 2008 at 08:15 PM
I don't ever remember the Town of Belhaven having such a well-qualified and educated Chief of Police. No wonder the Town interviewed until they found this calilber of individual. It appears that the wait was well worth it. I'm more impressed every day, despite the comments of a few poor losers. The Clinginpeel's sound like a super nice family. Let's give them a warm Belhaven welcome.

Posted by: Real Resident Location: Belhaven on Jul 18, 2008 at 06:38 PM
How nice to have an educated LEO for Belhaven. How nice to have someone who will honor the town by actually residing in it, not living outside and running the town from afar.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: Belhaven on Jul 18, 2008 at 05:51 PM
To Obama 08 4 Prez...you are absolutely right...our town is blessed (luck had nothing to do with it). Thank you for correcting me. May God continue to bless our beautiful town!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:36 PM
just because oneal is not catering to one side of town doesn't make him a bad mayor. Some resident in Belhaven are Spoiled by the Boyette regime!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I think O'neal is doing the best he can do, just because he is not catering to one side of t

Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Jul 18, 2008 at 12:09 AM
TO:Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: Belhaven on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:12 PM....What a nice introduction. I can't wait to meet him, even though he won't know Obama 08 4 Prez! is me. I would like to make one correct to your post if you don't mind. You said we are lucky to get him. Take luck out of your vocabulary. God makes no mistakes, and what has happened has been his plan. So you should have said, I know we are BLESSED to get him! Mayor O'Neal has tough skin and only the best would do. Belhaven needs to remember the Serenity Prayer.....God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: Belhaven on Jul 17, 2008 at 04:12 PM
To Anonymous....He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. That is a prestigious Academy that law enforcement officials all over the world attend for specialzed training (police officers, sheriff's deputies, etc). He is not an FBI special agent. His department would have selected him for this specialized training based on his work ethic, integrity and rank (I believe he was Lieutenant in Vice & Narcotics in his last position with the Sheriff's Dept). This says A LOT about the guy we're getting. Whatever's happened in the past, I think we are lucky to get him!

Posted by: Shi-ti-did Location: princeville on Jul 17, 2008 at 03:28 PM
I call for a name change,maybe SmellHaven cause this whole mess stinks to high Heaven

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 07:07 PM
To Blog Refute, Yes it may sound like an online town gossip but you can bet that most of us are not some ones puppet. We don't jump up and down in the mayors basket ether:)

Posted by: concerned citizen Location: belhaven on Jul 16, 2008 at 03:42 PM
what is DCI terminal.

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Jul 16, 2008 at 03:07 PM
This blog is reminiscent of online town gossip. :)

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Well, it is nice to see that Belhaven has hired a new chief. But i was wondering if he has graduated from the FBI academy why was he a deputy in NEw Hanover County

Posted by: Stanley Jones Location: Washington on Jul 16, 2008 at 03:30 AM
Yes a long time employee of the dept lost her job. Not becouse of personal reasons, she violated state rules about the use of the DCI terminal. The investigation was conducted by the sheriff's dept.They are the ones who said she needed tobe released! If the citizens have a problem with this, take it up with Beaufort counties Chief deputy, he is incharge of the dept until the new chief is in office!

Posted by: Tazer on Jul 15, 2008 at 10:27 PM
There have been people that have ask what made Chief George Hayden and Lt. Josh Hopkins so great. I will tell you what made them great. They gave up their jobs rather than lie to protect people that were breaking the law. I don't need to name anyone they know who they are. The truth will prevail just as we expected it to in this country. This will be my last comment however I will be looking in to see the truth come to light and it will come. God bless the people of Belhaven.

Posted by: concerned citizen Location: belhaven on Jul 15, 2008 at 06:00 PM
I have heard that davis has striked again.Is it a true fact that someone else has lost their job,a long time dispatcher as i heard that was employed there.They said she has cause her to loose her job also.PLease comment if anyone in belhaven knows about this.

Posted by: Tazer on Jul 15, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I can't help but notice how many people come on here and seem to be saying that every one does not have a right to their opinion. Every one has a right to their belief so therefore the consequence of that is you must take the good\bad opinions like it or not.

Posted by: abc Location: anywhere,nc on Jul 15, 2008 at 04:20 PM
I'm glad to see things are starting to turn around for Belhaven PD. I can only hope it's for the good of the people and not to certain looking people and interest groups?

Posted by: Blog Refuter Location: NC on Jul 15, 2008 at 03:36 PM
It's nice to know that the Town of Belhaven once again has a police chief. I also would like to say good job citizens of Belhaven, for being on your best behavior, and Beaufort County Sheriff's Department, for efficiently performing your patrol duties. My grandmother has told me that the town has been safe and well these few months without an active police force. I'm confident that the Belhaven Police force is about to rise again (hopefully, better than ever).

Posted by: concerned Location: belhaven on Jul 15, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Well another one bites the dust. Tiffany must be god cuss tiffany said, Tiffany said keeps coming up. Now we know what Tiffany will sell her sole for It's not the truth thats been proven over over agsin.

Posted by: blahblahblah Location: Sidney on Jul 15, 2008 at 02:44 PM
I think everyone wishes the new Chief the best! We all want to see this town cleaned up. That does not change the fact that the old Chief and Lt did their job to the best of their ability. Because they where given instructions to "not rock the boat (so to speak)" and they did not listen, they where given the boot! I wonder if they explained to the new chief that Belhaven was ruled under Dictatorship. I hope we did not just witness a "new puppet stringing"

Posted by: I agree Location: Washington, NC on Jul 15, 2008 at 01:31 PM
TO CLC: I agree with you. Adam has tried to improve the town. He's not as twisted as things Boyette did. This chief may truly be the best thing that happened to the town, inspite of everyone's negative comments and opinions. Let's all try to work together to improve Belhaven!

Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Jul 15, 2008 at 01:08 PM
I'm happy there IS a chief finally. Congratulations to the new police chief, Frederick Clingenpeel. Its a happy and sad day. Because we are glad to get Chief Clingenpeel, yet he stepped in a pile of manure that was already there. How do you even start helping a town that was already divided over the mayor and police department. I pray that he is a far and honest man. He treats everyone like they are equal. O'Neal did something Boyette never did to me. He spoke to me. I've always been told, you may not remember a person's name but you will always remember how a person treated you. These past 4 months I've seen more state troopers and sheriff in Belhaven than I have seen troopers on the interstate. It has been a better Belhaven. Thank You Mayor O'Neal. In my eyes you did what you said you were going to do. I'm not surprised at all, but a lot of the town is because they aren't use to a mayor who does what he says, and stands by his word!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 15, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Hey CLC - if anyone is trashing anyone it is because they learned that from Adam. O'Neal has done nothing but tear down people in Belhaven and tell you who is at fault. He is without a doubt, just negative. I wish the new Chief all the luck in world. I will predict one of two things will happen. If he is as good as Adam says he is then he won't stay long after he gets a feel of what is going on and how it will be dictated as to how he does his job. Or, He will do exactly what Adam tells him and fair treatment will only come to those who Adam sees fit. I just hope the new chief has not made a mistake and wishes he had his old job back.

Posted by: CLC Location: Belhaven on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:15 PM
It's a shame no one has anything better to do than trash Adam O'neal and the council. Just because you don't like them doesn't me other towns people don't because if everyone disliked him he would not have been voted back in as Mayor. So the town needs to wake up give the benefit of the doubt and let the New chief come in without a bunch of comments like the ones below. This chief may be the best thing that happens to this town. We have had a couple of other bad chiefs in the past too. So give this one a try. He can decide whether he likes it here or not without everyone trying to make the decisions for him. The town seems to be a nicer place with Mayor O'Neal inspite of what everyone else thinks. He is trying to make our home a better place to live.

Posted by: SMP Location: Washington on Jul 15, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Congratulations to the Mayor and Town Manager and council for hiring such a fine and qualified individual as the new police chief. This process shows that these men have a vision for a better Belhaven. Job well done! Good luch Chief Clingenpeel and God bless you and your family.

Posted by: Zulu Location: Beaufort County on Jul 15, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Wow, another O'neal "Hey Boy!"

Posted by: Concered Citizen Location: Belhaven on Jul 15, 2008 at 07:39 AM
I see that the most ofthe people at the town meeting was Oneals people. Also I hear Oneal making a speach, oh no that was the new chief, suure sounded just like what oneal has been saying. Is the mayor going to run the PD too. Or is the new Chief going to do his job?????????????

Posted by: concerned citizen Location: belhaven on Jul 15, 2008 at 07:19 AM
Of course the mayor wants to put the past problems behind him, HE MADE THEM. I am wondering if he or any of them that SAY they want to go a new way as far as community policing goes EVER talked to Chief Hayden about it. I will tell you because I ask Chief Hayden, NO. You are right Aonymous, as long as the new chief don't arrest the wrong people, mainly any family member of you know who and jumps up and down in the mayor basket and don't make him mad or go against him or the counsell, him will be fine. If he doesn't he will be gone just like Chief Hayden. I know Chief Hayden and that is what he did. He arrested Roy Oneal and did not jump up and down in the mayors basket so now he is gone. also, the town workers still work for the manager, but now when the mayor wants someone there, the puppet towm manager will make sure they are there, not like the former town manager. Rremember when the mayor wanted Chief Hayden there all the time at the towm meetinge? Another reason Hayden is gone.

Posted by: Sunshine Location: Greater Beaufort County on Jul 15, 2008 at 06:58 AM
Give the man a break! He is not the problem. Let him have a chance.

Posted by: citizen Location: belhaven on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:18 AM
If the new chief only knew--I say to him--Good Luck and God Bless--You have no idea what you have entered into--with Adam and Bow Tie---

Posted by: kingfisher Location: Pamlico Beach on Jul 14, 2008 at 11:18 PM
you are so right concerned citizen ..enjoy it while you can cause Mr Oneil wont be there long And just let me say this Adam the same thing that makes you LAUGH.. WILL make you CRY!!! good luck you're going to need it :)

Posted by: concerned citizen Location: belhaven on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:12 PM
now oneal needs to finds someone to replace himself and the tallative dispatcher and those who has put our community in such a mess.belhaven is underwater until oneal is gone long with his companion davis and others who stirred this mess up.as i said before we. need some real folks to run our town not want 2 be.cogratulations new chief u got a messe job.watch out dont go to work with Red Eyes,you will be on drugs.then report you to adam and you will be fire next. Editor's Note: Slight edit.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Belhaven on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Boy, if the new chief only knew what he is getting into.

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