Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 12, 1991, edition 1 / Page 17
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
-m t Ti THE BRUNSWlCICftlEACON D^) Lil lLBcl LI lt> oLII 1 ^ Police Chief's Retirement Ends Era At Holden Beach BY DOUG RUTTKK Raymond Simpson, a fixture in the Holdcn Beach Police Department, retired as chief tliis week af ter more than 15 years on the force. "1 think we're losing the Andy Griffith of Holdcn Beach," said Gil Bass, who has worked closely with Simpson over the years as a town official and business operator. Bass said he will miss Simpson's common sense and humane approach to law enforcement, which often reminded him of the mythical Maybcrry sheriff. "I mean that as the highest form of a compliment," Bass said. "He has worked with a few Barney Fife's, believe me." Simpson, who turned 64 years old in September, has been loved by some and criticized by others throughout his lengthy career at Holdcn Bcach. He was to have been recognized with a retirement party Wednesday at town hall to which the entire town was invited. Like a lot of other folks who end up living at Holdcn Bcach, Simpson at one time was a frequent visi tor. He first vacationed at the bcach in 1945. He married his present wife, Betty, at the Holdcn Beach Chapel on Aug. 14, 1976, and was sworn in as a town officer two weeks later. Simpson, who has worked at Holdcn Bcach longer than any other town employee, said his hiring was a classic ease of opportunity knocking. "1 always used to kid the chief if he ever wanted a good man let me know," Simpson recalled. "One morning he came to my house in High Point and asked me if I wanted a job at Holdcn Beach. 1 took it." Bill Hill was policc chief at Holdcn Bcach when Simpson was hired 15 years and four months ago. The two full-time officers and one auxiliary made up the town's police force at that lime. Hill and Simpson used to work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. Simpson was promoted to sergeant in 1977 and lieutenant in 1978 before becoming policc chief April 5, 1982. Hie police department now has six full-time offi cers. "Like everything else around here, it's improved a lot," Simpson said of the force. Simpson admits he's seen a lot of changes in the po lice department and the cuaslai resort community since he started working there Aug. 28, 1976. fhere arc about 1,(XX) more houses on the beach than there were 15 years ago, which means more work for the policc department. "Every time you build another house that means an other place you've got to watch," Simpson said. The addition of houses has drawn more permanent residents to the beach, and a lot more seasonal visitors. The eight-mile island is often packed with more than 10,000 people during the summer holiday week ends. Simpson said dealing with all of the people has been one of the most challenging parts of the job over the years, but also one of the most pleasurable. "We have people here from all walks of life and from all over the country," he said. 'That's another thing that makes the job interesting. You meet new peo ple every year, but still see a lot of same faces." The greatest improvement, in his opinion, was the " Every time you build another house that means another place you ve got to watch" -Raymond Simpson Retired Police Chief construction of the high-rise bridge to the island. It re placed a swing bridge in May 1986. "Every Easter weekend that bridge would break down," Simpson said. "It would always break down on the holidays and the biggest weeks of the tourist sea son." Hurricanes also kept the chief's job interesting. Simpson said returning to the island has always been worse than the evacuation. "Our hurricanes excite everybody," he said. "It's such a problem checking all the people, especially before we started using the stickers. "TTiey used to have to bring a deed or something showing they owned property." Simpson said his saddest experience at Holden Beach occurred about five years ago, when a young girl was struck and killed by an automobile driven by a friend that was coming to visit. The chief also said drug smuggling was a major problem when he first started working at Holden Beach. "Shrimp boats used to come in one behind the oilier carrying dope," he said. "The drug enforcement has im proved 100 percent." Simpson's time at Holden Beach hasn't been with out lis rough spots. One of the town's officers was arrested for dealing drags in his early years as chicf. "That put a black mark on every other officer and the department," Simpson recalled. "It don't ever go away, it just gets deeper." Simpson's lengthy term of em ployment at Holdcn Beach is unusual for a small-town police department. Most officers at places like Holden Beach stay just long enough to learn the system and gel some ex perience under their belts before mov ing on to larger departments which of fer more opportunity for advance ment. Simpson said he doesn't really know how he man aged lo slay at Holden Beach for so long. "I've tried to treat people as I wanted lo be treated, and do my job," he said. "It doesn't cost you anything to be nice to people as long as they'll let you." Kenner Amos, who was mayor when Simpson was hired at Holden Beach, said his long-time friend brought a "home-spun humor" to the job and always knew how to get along with his officers. "He was the best public relations person I've ever seen in my life," Amos added. "He was completely un selfish and always put the town first." Simpson worked with the Guilford County Sheriff's Department about five years before joining the Holden Beach force. Prior to getting involved in police work, he owned and operated a heating and air-conditioning business for 20 years. "Twenty years is enough on any job," he said. "I'm going to try 20 years of retirement ? plus." Simpson says he has mixed emotions about turning in his badge after so many years in law enforcement. "I'm going to miss it, but not as much as if I was leaving the bcach," he said. "I've made a lot of friends since I've been here, and maybe some enemies loo." Simpson said he won't be spending his "golden years" in a rocking chair. He's had several part-time jobs offered, and plans to wet a line or two. "I can't sit around and do nothing," he said. "I haven't fished in six years. I hope to get back to fishing some. I love to fish." The Brunswick Hospital is pleased to announce the association of Samuel W. Kirtley, M.D. in the practice of Family Medicine, with the Brunswick Islands Medical Associates, P.A. (BIMA) in the South Brunswick Islands Medical Park Junction of Hwy. 17 and Union School Road Now accepting appointments 579-0707 STAf F Photo by DOUG ?UTTt? since I9H2, retired this week after more than 15 RAYMOND SIMPSON, police chief at 1 1 olden Beach years on the force. Moravian Star Light omy$1995 SHOP UPSTAIRS FROM NOW TIL CHRISTMAS! UPSTAIRS OPEN THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS 3-9 PM, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS 9 AM-9 PM NEW SHIPMENT FOR FALL! BEACH MART FASHIONS BEACH MART SURF SHOP SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP AT BEACH MART YOUR MORE FOR CHRISTMAS STORE! HOLDEN BEACH CAUSEWAY-842-2699 OPEN 8 AM-8 PM 7 DAYS A WEEK Great Sportswear Gift Ideas, Including Women's Plus Sizes Sweaters, Pants, Tops and Jogging Suits by Cynthia All The Famous Names You Know Are Here: Rusty, O'Neil, Instinct, G&S, and Duck Head. Shark-Free Style Watches Men's a vVft Billabong ^ ?Jackets ?Jogging Suits ?Billfolds Debbie Hager models a jogging suit while looking over the large collection. Steven Hager looks sharp in his Billabonq outfit. tlWt THE BRUNSWICK BEACON ?Sweaters
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 12, 1991, edition 1
17
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75