POLICE CHIEF RESPONDS TO OFFICER'S ARREST

THOMASVILLE -- A city police officer arrested Monday was charged after an
investigation initiated by the department on a tip from an informant. Sgt.
Russell McHenry, 32, of 5524-B W. Market St.in Greensboro was arrested
shortly after 9 p.m. Monday and charged with trafficking in MDMA (ecstasy),
conspiracy to traffic in MDMA, possession with intent to sell and deliver
marijuana and conspiracy to deliver marijuana.

The 11-year-veteran of the Thomasville Police Department was released from
the Guilford County Jail in Greensboro Tuesday after a bond hearing. He is
scheduled to be in court on Dec. 12.

Thomasville Police Chief Larry Murdock said an informant told his office
that McHenry was involved in drugs about eight weeks ago. Officers from the
vice/narcotics unit opened an investigation and the State Bureau of
Investigations was contacted.

"Through the joint investigative efforts of both agencies, adequate
evidence was obtained leading to the arrest of Sgt. McHenry," Murdock
stated in a release.

Neither Murdock nor SBI agents would release additional details of the
investigation. Murdock said McHenry is not accused of taking any drugs from
police custody.

"I can assure you that none of the drugs came from the evidence room," he said.

McHenry, who was promoted to patrol supervisor two years ago, resigned
after his arrest, Murdock said.

"(McHenry) did a good job for us. He worked well with the men, he was a
good officer," Murdock said.

The chief said he is "a little depressed" that one of his officers lowered
his moral and ethical standards to get involved with drugs, but he is not
ashamed of the handling of the investigation.

"We didn't sweep this under the rug. We treated this like any other
investigation, and we probably put more emphasis on it because it was one
of our own," Murdock said.