POLICE DEPARTMENT STRUGGLES

ARCHDALE -- The city's police department has been stung by state and
federal investigations into two of its officers in recent weeks.

Sgt. Christopher Shetley was arrested at the department by the FBI last
week and charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. An
indictment accuses him along with five others, including three Davidson
County sheriff's deputies, of distributing 11 pounds of cocaine, more than
220 pounds of marijuana, anabolic steroids and Ecstasy in the past year.
Shetley resigned after his arrest.

Just six days earlier, the department dismissed rookie patrolman Barry
Needham, who is being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigations
for a shooting at his home in November that left one man dead.

"This is not what I expected when I was appointed chief in August," said
Chief Gary Lewallen, who took the helm after Larry Allen stepped down
abruptly at the beginning of the year. "But when you are dealing with
people, anything is possible."

"There is nothing worse than to see an officer go to the bad side," he said.

But he said the department has come together and is strong.

The two departures have left the normally 20-officer force depleted by 10
percent, and officers have been working double shifts to fill the vacancies.

"People are coming together do what we have to do," Lewallen said.

Despite the trouble facing two of his officers, Lewallen says he is not
worried about the public's confidence in the department.

"The people know who we are and know that we are here to serve the public,"
he said.

So far, it seems, public sentiment has not turned against the department.

"I am disturbed that a police officer could do something like that and join
with the criminal element," Donna Cabiness said as she watched her children
play at Creekside Park on Saturday. "But like all professions, it's such a
small percentage that's bad."

Archdale Mayor Bert Lance Stone said the city will miss the services the
two officers provided but said the loss of the two positions won't mean
less protection for the city.

"I don't think the safety of the citizens will be compromised," Stone said.

Shetley began his career in law enforcement with the Thomasville police,
where Lewallen also worked at one time, in 1990 and was assigned to
vice-narcotics in 1993.

Thomasville Police Chief Larry Murdock said Shetley did a good job for his
department before he went to Archdale in 1995. In Archdale, he worked in
vice and narcotics before he was promoted to patrol sergeant.

He is being held in jail without bond along with the other five who were
charged.

"The temptations were there, and this individual made a bad decision" said
Stone. "Now he has to face the consequences."

In Needham's case, the SBI is preparing to turn over its report to the
Randolph County district attorney, who will make a decision on whether any
charges will be filed in connection with the shooting.

City officials have said Needman, a 21-year-old who joined the department
in August, was dismissed not in connection with the shooting but because he
failed to fulfill his probationary requirements. All new hires with the
city of Archdale have a probationary period.

Despite the recent investigations, Cabiness, an Archdale resident for five
years, says she doesn't have any fears about the city's ability to protect
residents.

"I feel safer knowing that there are police officers out there."