David Spears Named Acting Fire Chief

Acting Chief Spears begins his new duties immediately.

Deputy Chief David Spears will serve as acting fire chief following the retirement of Chief Johnny Teeters. Spears joined the Greensboro Fire Department in 1980. He became a captain in 1986, battalion chief in 1993, assistant chief in 1996 and has been deputy chief since 2004.

Under the City's anti-nepotism policy, however, Spears cannot be appointed to permanent fire chief because he has a relative who is employed in the fire department. The search for a permanent chief is expected to take about six months.

You've Been Served

Warrant Squad efforts make it easier for officers to find suspects and serve papers.

The Warrant Squad of the Greensboro Police Department is taking a computerized bite out of crime. Recent changes at the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) now allow law enforcement agencies to enter all warrants into a computerized database.

Greensboro’s Warrant Squad is adding to the database felony warrants, domestic violence legal papers, and other papers where the charges or the suspect might be a danger to officers. This increases the likelihood of serving the papers, even to suspects who have left the area. Law enforcement agencies across the country can see if there are any outstanding warrants or orders for arrest for someone in Greensboro. In addition to increasing the number of warrants and papers served, entering the information into NCIC also enhances public safety, as well as officer safety.   

Robbery Suppression Unit Making A Difference

In Greensboro last year, officers solved 34 percent of reported robberies. Nationwide, only 25 percent of robberies are solved.

Attention to robbery trends, thorough investigative work and a little bit of luck came together for the Police Department’s Robbery Suppression Unit last week when they arrested suspects in a convenience store robbery immediately after the robbery occurred.

A member of the unit observed three men acting suspiciously shortly after midnight on June 4, in the parking lot of Great Stops, 5412 W. Market St. Suddenly, the three men covered their faces and ran into the store, where they robbed the store clerk at gunpoint while stealing money and cigars. 

When the suspects ran out of the store, the officer and his backup were able to arrest two of the three men; the third fled and was not found. Officers recovered all of the money, items stolen from the store, as well as the gun was used in the robbery.

Questions or comments about this newsletter should be addressed to: Jim Collins 373-2105 or email.