Special to Iredell Free News
In keeping with the highest levels of training and professionalism at the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Darren Campbell recently presented four detectives and one road patrol sergeant with their Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates.
Detective Sergeant Mike Benfield, Detective Patrick Dixson, and Detective Scott Hall, Detective Sergeant Katie Campbell, and Sergeant Josh Watson were recognized by the sheriff.
The certificates were presented by the authority of the N.C. Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission. To qualify to receive these prestigious certificates, the recipient must have obtained various levels of job related training, and/or a combination of secondary school degrees. Once these requirements are met, a deputy sheriff makes application for their training credentials and educational degrees to be verified, and have them accepted by the N.C. Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission. Upon verification, a certificate is awarded for presentation.
“These certificates are the results of dedication, and commitment to the profession, this agency and our community,” Campbell said. “I am very happy for these deputies as they receive these awards. I have always said to have top-tier law enforcement, you must recruit, maintain, and provide training opportunities for your employees. These certificates prove we have those type of employees here at the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office”.
Detective Sergeant Mike Benfield has 16 years of law enforcement experience. He graduated from Basic Law Enforcement at Mitchell Community College in 2005. He was sworn in at the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve Deputy. Benfield worked briefly for the Concord Police Department before becoming a full-time deputy with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in 2006. He has been a road patrol deputy, road patrol sergeant, and property crimes detective. He is currently a detective sergeant in the Special Victims Unit.
Detective Patrick Dixon has six years of law enforcement experience. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. He attended Basic Law Enforcement Training in 2014 at Central Piedmont Community College. Dixon was sworn in at the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in 2014. He worked as a road patrol deputy, then transferred to the Community Oriented Policing (COPS) Unit. He was then promoted to the Special Victims Unit and is currently working in the Economic Crimes Section. Dixon is also a certified Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Instructor.
Detective Scott Hall has 15 years of law enforcement experience. He attended Basic Law Enforcement Training at Mitchell Community College in 2005. Hall was sworn in at the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 and worked as a road patrol deputy, on the Warrant Squad, as a canine handler, and was on the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT). He is a certified General Instructor in Law Enforcement Topics, and is also a certified ASAP Baton Instructor. Hall is currently a member of the Homicide Investigations Team.
Detective Sergeant Katie Campbell has 16 years of law enforcement experience. She started with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in 2005 working in the detention center, and then as a transport deputy. In 2007, Campbell graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training at Mitchell Community College. She has served as a school resource officer, patrol deputy and is currently assigned to the Special Victims Unit. She is a Certified Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D) Instructor.
Sergeant Josh Watson has 20 years in law enforcement. He graduated from Basic Law Enforcement at Wilkes Community College in 2000. He work with the Boone Police Department for 12 years before being sworn in at the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in 2012. Watson worked as a road patrol deputy before being promoted to sergeant in 2017. He is currently assigned to “A” Squad.