Chief of Police Jeff Ackerman
Chief Jeff Ackerman moved to the Outer Banks from the Washington, DC area. He began his law enforcement career in 1998, serving with the Nags Head Police Department and the Dare County Sheriff’s Office. In 2003, Chief Ackerman joined the Town of Duck Police Department as a patrol officer. In the years that followed, he was promoted through the ranks to Lieutenant, where he served as assistant to the Chief of Police and supervised day-to-day departmental operations. In July of 2020, Chief Ackerman was promoted to Chief of Police.
Chief Ackerman holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate and is a certified General Instructor with a specialization in hazardous materials and explosives. “It is my honor and privilege to work for the Town of Duck, and to be a part of what is, without question, the finest coastal community on the Outer Banks.”
Click here to e-mail Chief Ackerman.
Deputy Police Chief Melissa Clark
Deputy Police Chief Melissa “Missy” Clark is a native of the Outer Banks. Lieutenant Clark attended East Carolina University studying exercise and sport science with an emphasis on cardiac rehabilitation.
Deputy Chief Clark began her law enforcement career in 2002 with the Kill Devil Hills Police Department. She served in the Patrol Division as a patrol officer before going to the Criminal Investigations Division as a narcotics officer. In 2006, she accepted a position with the Southern Shores Police Department where she continued her work in both patrol and as an investigator.
Deputy Chief Clark comes to Duck with over 2,100 hours of Law Enforcement Training. She joined the department in December 2010. Deputy Chief Clark holds a General Instructor Certification with a specialized certification in Subject Control and Arrest Techniques/ Defensive Tactics. She is currently working towards her Tactical Certification which consists of 500 hours of specialized tactical training.
“Through my affiliation as a volunteer firefighter with the Duck Volunteer Fire Department, I have had the opportunity to become familiar with the Town and its citizens. This is a wonderful community, and I enjoy serving here.”
Click here to e-mail Deputy Chief Clark.
Sergeant Timothy Armstrong
Sergeant Timothy Armstrong became a police officer with the Winterville Police Department in 2008. Having served four years with Winterville, he became employed by Nags Head Police Department in 2012. Sergeant Armstrong comes to the Town of Duck Police Department with nearly 10 years of experience. He has earned an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Pitt College, and is currently about to meet all the requirements for his Advanced Certificate.
Sergeant Armstrong is a well-rounded officer, and much of his training and experience is in special units and divisions. He has served with the DARE County SWAT Task Force for 4 years and is responsible for serving many high-risk warrants and other special tasks. Sergeant Armstrong is a true asset to the Town of Duck Police Department and he has an expressed gratitude for this opportunity.
Click here to e-mail Sergeant Armstrong.
Senior Sergeant Joe Knight
Senior Sergeant Joe Knight comes to the Duck Police Department with over 7 years of law enforcement experience. He started his career as a Patrol Deputy with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office and then moved to the Kill Devil Hills Police Department where he worked as a Patrol Officer and spent time as an Investigator. Sergeant Knight has been awarded the NC Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate. He is also a speed measurement instrument operator, certified IPMBA bike patrol officer, and a field training officer.
Before his law enforcement career, Senior Sergeant Knight attended Purdue University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Society with a minor in Psychology.
Senior Sergeant Knight is excited to work for the Town of Duck saying, “I am happy to work for a community that is supportive of its Public Safety. The residents and Town administration have made me feel really welcome!”
Click here to e-mail Senior Sergeant Knight.
Corporal John Gilreath
Corporal John Gilreath graduated from Tarheel Challenge Academy at the age of 17 and soon enlisted in the Army. After completing his service in the military, he graduated Basic Law Enforcement Training. He comes to the Town of Duck with over 12 years of law enforcement experience and a wealth of training. He holds both a Traffic Reconstruction Certificate and an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate.
Click here to e-mail Corporal Gilreath.
Master Police Officer Jason Garrett
Master Police Officer Jason Garrett was raised in Columbia, North Carolina where he volunteered for the local fire department for six years. Master Police Officer Garrett then attended Basic Law Enforcement at the College of the Albemarle in 2005. He began his career with the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office where he was assigned to patrol Corolla for three years.
In November 2008, Master Police Officer Garrett began working with the Town of Duck Police Department. His goal is to serve the community while growing both professionally and personally.
Click here to e-mail Master Police Officer Garrett.
Corporal Justin Naquin
Corporal Justin Naquin became a police officer with the Greensboro Police Department in January 2008. During his career he became a General Instructor and ultimately a SCAT Instructor and Rabid Deployment (Active Shooter) Instructor. Justin has taught most of the current police force in Greensboro in both disciplines.
Like most, Justin started his career in patrol, and eventually moved to the Downtown Response Team. In this Proactive Unit he generated his own work load and accumulated a substantial number of priority one offense arrests. Following this he was promoted to Detective on the Department’s newly formed Street Crimes Unit. There he was tasked with charging the city’s known violent offenders with many weapons charges.
In July of 2017 Justin left the Greensboro Police Department and brought his experience and training to the Outer Banks starting with the Nags Head PD. One year later, Justin comes to what he hopes will be his permanent home, the Town of Duck Police Department.
Click here to email Corporal Naquin.
Senior Police Officer Jeremy Davis
Senior Police Officer Jeremy Davis comes to the Town of Duck Police Department with over 3 years of law enforcement experience from the Henrico County Police Department in Virginia. Davis served five years active duty in the United States Marine Corps as a helicopter crew chief and mechanic. After being honorably discharged, he attended Old Dominion University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, graduating with the highest of honors. Officer Davis looks forward to a career with the Town of Duck Police Department and becoming a member of the community.
Click here to e-mail Officer Davis.
Senior Police Officer Kyle Kuhar
Senior Officer Kyle Kuhar comes to the Town of Duck Police Department with over six years of full-time law enforcement experience. Kuhar began his career in New Jersey with the Cape May Police Department as a seasonal officer in 2012. Later, he joined the Galloway Township Police Department in 2013 and was shortly thereafter promoted to a full-time police officer position. During his tenure with Galloway Township, he spent his time assigned to the patrol division. Officer Kuhar is a graduate of Atlantic Cape Community College and earned an Associate’s in Science of Criminal Justice.
Click here to e-mail Officer Kuhar.
Senior Police Officer Mitchell Ardinger
Senior Police Officer Mitchell Ardinger comes to the Town of Duck Police Department with over 3 years of law enforcement experience from the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia. During that time, Officer Ardinger was assigned patrol in the Woodbridge area and was a member of the part-time bike team. Officer Ardinger attended Randolph-Macon College in Virginia where he played four years of college football and graduated with a sociology degree. Officer Ardinger looks forward to serving this great community.
Click here to e-mail Officer Ardinger.
Senior Police Officer Nathan Mauffray
Senior Police Officer Nathan Mauffray was raised in Columbia, NC. After receiving his BLET certification at Beaufort County Community College in 2010, he began his law enforcement career in his hometown of Columbia as a Sheriff’s Deputy. Officer Mauffray then gained experience in Washington and Dare Counties as a Sheriff’s Deputy. He joined the Duck Police Department in 2021 bringing nearly 11 years of experience with varied aspects of the job.
Officer Mauffray feels at home in Duck and enjoys the positive atmosphere in the community. He looks forward to serving the great citizens of Duck and getting to know the community.
Click here to e-mail Officer Mauffray.
Police Officer
Kelly Mears
Officer Kelly Mears was raised in Port Tobacco, Maryland. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Denver and Eastern Connecticut State University. She graduated with a degree in Political Science with a History Minor. While in college, she swam on the varsity swim team.
Officer Mears completed her BLET certification from Cape Fear Community College. She began her law enforcement career at the Dare County Sheriff’s Office. While at the Sheriff’s Office, she was assigned to the Patrol Division and later promoted to the Impact Unit. She comes to the Town of Duck with about 6 years of experience.
Officer Mears is excited to be a part of the Town of Duck family and get to know the folks in the community!
Click here to email Officer Mears.
Police Officer Jeremy Hemilright
Officer Hemilright completed basic law enforcement training at the College of the Albemarle in Manteo in 2002. He came to Duck Police Department with over 20 years of experience. Officer Hemilright is certified to instruct on firearms, pepper ball, rapid deployment, and simunitions, and he is a certified law enforcement sniper. Officer Hemilright holds a tactical certificate as well as an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate.
Officer Hemilright enjoys community policing and is excited to be a member of the Duck Police Department where he can promote positive interactions with the public.
Click here to email Jeremy.
Police Officer Blake Cutrell
Police Officer Blake Cutrell was raised in Fairfield, NC. He received his BLET certification from Pitt Community College and comes to Duck Police Department with 7 years of prior law enforcement experience and numerous training hours. Blake has also been employed as an EMT and a Correctional Officer.
The community oriented feeling that the Town of Duck presents makes Blake eager to serve the community and expand his career with the Duck Police Department.
Click here to email Blake.
Public Safety Office Administrator Beverlee Davis
Beverlee relocated to the Outer Banks area from Roanoke Virginia full time with her husband in November of 2022. Beverlee has spent the last 26 years working in higher education where she held positions in the Development office, Office of Admission, and spent the last 14 years in Financial Aid. She is a graduate of Elizabeth Brant School of Business, studied at Blue Ridge Community College and Hollins University where she took accounting and business courses. Beverlee holds several completed course certifications in both banking and Financial Aid. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated group of professionals in public safety and the Town of Duck and to work in such a beautiful area, “The Outer Banks”, that my husband and I now call home.”
Click here to email Beverlee.