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Support Services Bureau

Major Craig “CC” Smith, a native of Southern California while growing up as a military dependent, Major Smith has traveled extensively through the United States and abroad. Captain Smith graduated from Wayne Community College with an AAS Degree in Criminal Justice and from N.C. Wesleyan College with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Hired by Wilson Police Department, in 1989 he graduated from Coastal Plain Law Enforcement Academy. Since then, he has worked various assignments including Patrol, Selective Enforcement, Bicycle Team, and Central Business District patrol. Major Smith was certified as a North Carolina Criminal Justice Instructor in 1996 and he graduated from both the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University in 1998 and the L. E. A. D. S. Management Program at the University of Virginia in 2001. Major Smith has served as the South District Commander, Special Response Team Commander, Field Operations Commander, and he is currently the Support Services Bureau Commander.  Major Smith enjoys hunting, fishing, off-road racing, youth sports, and scouting. He is married and has great 3 children, a dog and a cat. 

Administration Division 

Captain Kendra Howell 252.296.3099

Captain Kendra Howell is a native of Wayne County, North Carolina. She began her career with the Wilson Police Department in October 1993. During her years with our department, Kendra has been apart of the following divisions/functions: training officer, former SRT member, Honor Guard member, juvenile detective, Patrol and Administrative Sergeant, and former Accreditation Manager. Kendra earned her BS degree in Science from East Carolina University and has 12 hours of graduate level courses in management from North Carolina State University. Additionally, Kendra is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Criminal Justice Public Adminstration.  She is a certified instructor through North Carolina Training and Standards commission. She currently teaches juvenile law, mental illness and retardation, and instructor certification classes.  Kendra was Commander of the Central District for eight years.  Her current position is Commander of the Administration Division.  She is responsible for the general oversite of the following duties and functions: Public Information Officer, Barton College, Crime Analysis, Police Information Systems Coordinator, Records, Field Training Program, Citizen Academy Program, Building Maintenance, Downtown Officer, Park Police Officer, and major events within the city. As part of the department's rank restructure in 2011, her position was reclassified as Captain.

Professional Standards Division 

Captain Eric Smith is the Professional Standards Division Captain.  He is responsible for general oversight in the following areas:  Accreditation, Training, Recruitment, Off-Duty Employment, Procurement, Departmental Property, Budgeting, Internal Affairs, Inspections, Explorer Program,  Parking Enforcement, Housing Officer, and School Crossing Guards.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from East Carolina University.  He has worked at the Wilson Police Department since October of 1991.  He is an Administrative Officers Management Program (AOMP) Graduate of N.C. State University.  His initial assignment was in the Uniformed Patrol Division in 1991.  Eric was transferred to the Special Operations Division in 1994 to serve on the Selective Enforcement Unit.  In 1996, he moved into a Juvenile Investigative position.  In 2000, he was transferred to work in Financial Crimes.  In 2002, he was transferred to Support Services to become the Department’s Crime Analyst.   In September of 2003, Eric was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and transferred to the Patrol Division.  In July of 2006, Eric was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to his current position. As part of the department's rank restructure in 2011, his position was reclassified as Captain. 

Eric is a self admitted technology “geek” and loves to work with computers and technology.  He has had training in both computer forensics and forensic video analysis.  He is a certified law enforcement instructor and routinely instructs at the Coastal Plains Law Enforcement Training Center.

Eric lives in Wilson, is married, and has two children.  In addition to computers, Eric loves bass fishing and woodworking.  He currently is a Co-Captain of the department’s Relay for Life Team and the Post Advisor for the department’s Explorer Post.

 Special Operations Division

Captain Keith Pendergrass is a native of Vance County. He has several years of experience as a sworn law enforcement officer. Keith has been employed with the City of Wilson Police Department since 1994 after serving two years with the Cary Police Department. In addition, Captain Pendergrass has recently retired as a commissioned officer in the North Carolina Army National Guard where he has twenty years of service. Keith holds an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Wilson Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Justice Studies from North Carolina Wesleyan College. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Liberal Sutdies with a core theme in Public Administration from North Carolina State University in 2010. He is a 2001 graduate of the Administrative Officers Management Program from North Carolina State University. Keith currently serves as the commander of the West District, and supervises the Wilson Police Department’s K-9 unit. Keith holds a state instructor certificate and teaches several courses in the police academy at Wilson Community College. He began his career in Wilson as a patrol officer. Keith was transferred to investigations in 1997 and worked narcotics until being promoted to sergeant in 1999. Keith supervised a patrol team until being transferred back to investigations in 2003 where he supervised the narcotics unit. In 2004, Keith transferred from narcotics to supervise the criminal investigation and major case investigators. He remained in this position until being promoted to Lieutenant in 2006. As part of the department's rank restructure in 2011, his position was reclassified as Captain and currently is the Special Operations Division Commander. Keith has general oversite over the following duties and functions: PORT Team, Gang Unit, STEP Unit, Vice & Narcotics, Task Force Investigators, Taxi Inspections, and Rotation wreckers.  Keith is married and has three adorable children.

Vice/Narcotics: This section is supervised by the Vice and Narcotics Sergeant and is responsible for the detection and apprehension of those involved in Vice/Narcotics criminal activities. This section is responsible for Career Criminal Identification and Asset Forfeiture.

ATF Liaison: This officer is responsible for following up on weapons violations that occur within our jurisdiction. This officer will coordinate with the ATF on federal prosecution of cases that meet necessary criteria.

US Marshal’s Task Force Liaison: This officer works in a dual role with the Wilson Police Department and the US Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force. 

Gang/Juvenile Unit: This unit is responsible for the identification and detection of gangs and gang members in the City. This officer also serves as the liaison for disseminating gang information to members of the Department and to other law enforcement agencies.

The Strategic Traffic Enforcement Patrol (S.T.E.P.) Unit utilizes traffic enforcement resources to not only address traffic related concerns throughout the city, but also is effectively used in conjunction with other policing efforts to address ongoing crime trends and concerns in specific areas of the city.

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2008 IA Statistics (80 KB)
2009 IA Statistics (83 KB)
2010 IA Statistics (82 KB)