Promotions within the New Albany Police Department

Today, Mayor Jeff Gahan announced five promotions in the New Albany Police Department. Due to recent retirements of many long-serving officers, those positions were now open to current officers who meet all requirements and qualifications. Mayor Gahan wanted to express his appreciation to all of our New Albany Police Officers for their service to the citizens of New Albany.

The officers who have been selected for promotions, effective June 4th, 2016, are as follows:

Captain Sharon Knight

1. Sergeant Sharon Knight will be promoted to Captain. Capt. Knight is a 20 year veteran of the New Albany Police Department who serves in the Uniform Division. 

Sergeant Carrie East

2. Corporal Carrie East will be promoted to Sergeant. Sgt East is a 21 year veteran of the New Albany Police Department who serves in the Uniform Division.

Corporal Michelle Gilbert

Officer Michelle Gilbert will be promoted to Corporal. Cpl. Gilbert is a 13 year veteran serving in the Criminal Investigations Division.

Sergeant Paul Haub

Corporal Paul Haub will be promoted to Sergeant.  Sgt. Haub is a 20 year veteran serving as the department's Training Officer.

Major Will Popp

Will Popp will be promoted to the permanent rank of Corporal, but will remain a member of Chief Bailey's Administrative Staff serving at the rank of Major.  Major Popp is an 11 year veteran.

New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey stated, "All of these officers have time and again proven their abilities. They are committed to serving the citizens of New Albany."

NAPD Welcomes Two New Officers to the Ranks

Harrison Clayton

Two new officers were sworn into the New Albany Police Department recently.  

Harrison Clayton attended high school at Washington High School in Indiana before graduating from Indiana University. He previously worked with the I.U. Campus Police Department, and more recently served as a 1st and 4th Division patrolman with the Louisville Metro Police Department. Harrison is 25 years old, and currently resides in Floyds Knobs.

Nick Watson, 31, is a former New Albany Bulldog. Previously, Nick worked for the Floyd County Sherrif’s Department, servings as a Correctional Officer in the Floyd County Jail. He also served as a Court Officer at the City-County Building in downtown New Albany. Nick currently resides in New Albany.

Nick Watson

Both Harrison and Nick are currently in the beginning stages of their field training, which will last approximately 6 months. During this training, they learn all of the tactics, policies, and procedures of being a New Albany police officer, including classes on criminal law, traffic law, defensive tactics, how to properly handle domestic situations, and how to conduct themselves as police officers.

“Both Clayton and Watson have strong backgrounds and will make fine additions to our New Albany Police family and the community at large,” stated New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey.

We would like to officially welcome Harrison and Nick to the New Albany Police Department, and wish them long, safe, and fulfilling careers.

Meet the NAPD's Newest Officer

K-9 Warro, New Albany's newest officer.

Patrolman Robert Carter and Warro outside the New Albany Police Department.

Meet K-9 Warro, the newest addition to the New Albany Police Department.  Warro has traveled a long way to fulfil his goal of becoming a K-9 (canine) Officer.

“Warro joins us all the way from Czechoslovakia,” explains Officer Robert Carter, Warro’s handler.

As a young pup, Warro began learning commands and training that would help him in his future career.  “The commands that he learned at a young age were all given in Dutch, so it was a fun process getting to learn those commands,” stated Officer Carter. 

Warro, a German Shepard, has the genetics in his breed for the job.  But intensive training is required to focus those skills into a positive force for the community.  Officer Carter and Warro traveled together to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for two months of K-9 training.  There, Warro learned how to channel his inherit abilities to assist communities and police departments.
When most people think of K-9 units, they think of narcotics detection, but Warro has many more skills than just that.  For the sake of example, let’s say a young child has gone missing in a large wooded area.  Warro is able to pick up a latent scent from a personal item (a toy, clothing, etc.) that belonged to the missing child, and then enter the wooded area and begin tracking.  The K-9 unit is able to speed up the tracking process immensely, given he is able to use his powerful sense of smell to follow the trail. 

“Warro can search a huge area very quickly, much faster than officers would be able to,” explained Officer Carter.  “He truly is a force multiplier for the department, and he allows us to serve the community on a much higher level.”

Patrolman Robert Carter, Warro's handler, is pictured with the former K-9s of the NAPD.

Warro also assists in checking suspicious packages, and has been used to conduct building searches.  It may take officers a certain amount of time to conduct a building search for a missing person or a fugitive on the run, but Warro is able to find and detect those people in a much quicker timeframe.  He is also called to assist with search warrants, and has been utilized by the ATF, the FBI, and the NAPD Narcotics Unit.

It’s not all work for Warro though, and once his shift is over, he gets to go home with his friend and co-worker Officer Carter.

“Other than my wife and my son, Warro is my best friend – he’s just such a great dog,” said Officer Carter.  

All-in-all, it’s a pretty good life for Warro.  He gets to use his skills to help the community during the day, and he gets to enjoy a warm and loving home at night.