BY DEBBIE PAGE

Over a hundred people gathered Thursday afternoon to heap praise on Statesville Police Department Community Resource Coordinator Pam Navey, who is retiring after serving 40 years in various roles in the criminal justice system in Iredell County.

SPD Police Chief David Onley said Navey “has set the bar with everything she has done and been involved with. There is not a problem that comes to our department that Pam does not have a group or someone to reach out to to assist with that problem.”

Cpl. Chan Austin said working with Pam for over 10 years was an “adventure” as he was awed by her 24/7 worth ethic.

“She basically never has a day off. She’s always on the phone, always dealing with a crisis or an issue,” Austin said. “She never backs down. If someone needs help, she will work until she finds the answer. She fills a big role at the department, and she will be missed.”

Working with Navey for the past nine years, Sgt. Shannon Humphey described Navey as “relentless” in her quest to help community members. If she did not have the answer, Navey would reach out to her extensive network of community agencies to find someone who did.

“She doesn’t let people down and is determined to do her best every single day, even after hours,” Humphrey said.

Mooresville Police Department Community Services Coordinator Lori Carlson said Navey “knows everybody and all the ends and outs of the community. She has been involved in so many different organizations — My Sister’s House, Fifth Street Ministries, the Homeless Coalition, and many others.”

Misty McGill, My Sister’s House victim advocate, said Navey “has been an inspiration to me. If I have any questions about domestic violence, I can always count on Pam. She’s going to be greatly missed. She’s just a wonderful all-around person.”

NaKayla Griffin, who is taking over the SPD Community Resource Coordinator position, has enjoyed soaking up Navey’s knowledge and getting familiar with community resources over the past eight months during the transition.

“She has been the best. I call her ‘Auntie’ because she has taken me under her wing and made sure I knew all the ropes. She’s a wealth of knowledge, full of wisdom. I have some big shoes to fill, and I’m excited to step into these shoes!”

Josh Preston knows Navey as a compassionate person who helps those on a rocky path get back on their feet. Navey guided him to Fifth Street Ministries and rehab to get clean, resulting in him getting his family back, finding God, and achieving the skills to earn the managerial position that he holds today.

“I went from homelessness to home owner in eight years,” Preston said, saying Navey’s compassion and help were integral to his success.

Wendy Martin, Goodwill’s Project Re-entry Coordinator, said “Pam has poured a lot into me, and I hope I can do her proud to pour it back out” to community members in need.

United Way Executive Director Brett Eckerman said “every time you hear her speak, she’s standing up for somebody. She’s a relentless advocate and voice for making sure everybody gets a chance or opportunity.”

Former law enforcement officer Dan Miglin, who has worked with Navey in different capacities for decades, commended her “servant’s heart.” The pair first began working together when Navey was director of Appropriate Placement Options, writing grants to fund a gang prevention initiative 20 years ago.

When the job came open, Miglin urged Navey to apply for the SPD community resource coordinator position because “she was plug and play — already well-established in the community. She was so connected, and her heart was in the right place.”

“Pam has done good things for the community for no other purpose than to help people. She does everything for the right reasons. She’s just a great person.”

Foundation of Hope Ministries’ Karen Kidd described Navey as “invaluable for her compassion and love to see other people be successful, however that may look, whether in mental, addiction, justice-involved, or homelessness. She’s a go-getter!”

Christ Church Recovery Pastor Brian King thanked Navey for her tremendous support and encouragement in the establishment of Foundry House, which helps those leaving incarceration or a 28-day rehab to get the life, job, and personal skills to succeed as productive community members.

Navey’s former colleagues at the now disbanded Appropriate Placement Options said Navey was an “Energizer bunny” who treated them as family rather than employees.

“She was always understanding and had a open door policy. We could talk to her about anything,” said Belinda Gaither.

PRESENTATIONS

After recounting her many accomplishments in the formal presentation, Chief Onley said, “Nobody else cares as much as Pam does or has been as passionate about this position as Pam. She is going to be hard to replace. She’s been like a mom to us as well.”

“There’s no one else in Iredell County that I could hire that has her abilities and drive. She’s genuine in what she does, she cares — it’s not fake. She does everything.”

Onley presented Navey with a glass plaque honoring her service and a custom blanket throw featuring enlarged photos from her career.

An emotional Navey thanked her SPD co-workers for the gifts and her family, friends, community partners, and colleagues from throughout her career for coming to the gathering.

Though she plans to do some traveling in her retirement, Navey said that “as long as there’s breath in my body and I have a heart and a soul, I will be serving this community. This is home, and this is where I will stay.”

Navey expressed gratitude to her many partners in the many community organizations who through the years have helped so many people in Iredell County, and she looks forward to continuing to volunteer with many of them.

She also expressed gratitude for the blessings that her family members are to her and for her partner Michael.

After her speech, the crowd honored Navey with a standing ovation.

NAVEY’S EXTENSIVE SERVICE

After graduating from South Iredell High and earning a Fine Arts Associate Degree from Mitchell Community College and a Bachelors of Science in Human Services focused on criminal justice from Gardner-Webb University, Navey worked as a magistrate and legal assistant in the District Attorney’s Office and as a law enforcement officer for 22 years in part-time, full-time, and reserve positions.

After becoming a certified Criminal Justice Addictions professional, Navey served as the executive director of Appropriate Placement Options, which managed the Iredell County Day Reporting Center, the Iredell County Resource Center, re-entry services (after incarceration), the Youth Incentive Program, and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention services and taught survival and employability skills for youth/men/women.

Along with more than 10 years as the SPD community resource coordinator as a victim services practitioner and advocate, Navey also served the community in other capacities over the years, including planning and conducting countywide crisis intervention training sessions and chairing the Domestic Violence Task Force of Iredell, the Local Re-entry Council, the Iredell Homelessness Collaborative, and the Iredell Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.

Navey also served as the past president, secretary and western region representative of the NC Community Alternatives for Youth group, was a member of the Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell, serves on the board of Foundation of Hope Ministries, and assisted in the Iredell Homicide Support Group for Survivors.

Navey is also an adjunct Basic Law Enforcement Training instructor at Mitchell Community College and a general instructor at Catawba Valley Community College and will continue part time in these positions as well as volunteering with community organizations.