Whiteville honors retiring Lt. Scottie Wayne Moody and announces internal police promotions

The Whiteville City Council read a resolution recognizing Lieutenant Scottie Wayne Moody, who retired effective June 30, 2026, and highlighted several internal promotions in the police department.

The resolution, recorded as Resolution No. 2026 R186 and signed by Mayor Terry Mann, thanks Moody for 23 years and one month of service and notes his start as an auxiliary police officer on March 28, 2003. An agency official told the council that the promotion openings created by Moody’s retirement allowed long-serving staff to advance, singling out Sergeant Chuck Arnold and JT Ward for new assignments. "We're super excited to have JT from sergeant to lieutenant over our criminal and narcotics investigations," the official said.

Nut graf: The resolution formally records the city’s appreciation and was presented to Moody at the culmination of his service on July 14, 2026. Council discussion emphasized the value of internal advancement and department traditions—gifts, a shadow box and the transfer of a service weapon under existing policy.

Council procedure: A council member moved to approve the retirement resolution and related resolutions (motion text read aloud). The transcript includes the motion but does not record a roll-call vote in the provided extract; the resolution text itself states it was adopted and signed.

Details and context: The reading noted Moody’s years of service and the department’s customary retirement acknowledgements—a shadow box displaying his lieutenant and detective sergeant badges and the presentation of a service weapon under departmental policy. City staff said the gift remains ready to present to Moody.

What happens next: The resolution text indicates the presentation occurred on July 14, 2026. Staff did not provide additional policy changes tied to the retirement during the excerpt; council members and staff noted that promotions were internal and based on years of service.

Ending: The council acknowledged Moody’s service and moved on to other agenda items, with the council member who made the motion receiving verbal assent; no roll-call vote appears in the segments provided.