By Staff
Hayden, Hopkins say
town told they will
pursue ‘legal remedies’
By CLAUD HODGES
Senior Reporter
Two Belhaven police officers fired 10 days ago are going to fight their terminations.
Hayden, Belhaven’s former police chief and Hopkins, a former lieutenant, were fired by the Town of Belhaven on March 20. No reasons for the terminations have been provided by town officials, who have said they will not comment on the firings because they are personnel matters.
Attorney Mary-Ann Leon, Ph.D., a general-practice lawyer based in Greenville, spoke with Hayden and Hopkins this week about their cases.
Hayden and Hopkins said town officials have been informed that they have hired Leon.
Gwinn Leverett, Belhaven’s interim town manager, said during a telephone interview Saturday afternoon the Belhaven Town Council has not been informed that Hayden and Hopkins have hired an attorney to fight their terminations. Legally, the Belhaven Town Council is the town, Leverett said.
Telephone messages left for Mayor Adam O’Neal and Councilman Steve Carawan were not immediately returned Saturday.
Hayden was named Belhaven’s police chief on Dec. 7, 2001. He had been the acting chief since May 8, 2001. Hayden came to the department in December 2000, starting with the rank of lieutenant.
After 21 years in the Marine Corps, Hayden retired in 1989. After leaving the Marines, he served as a law-enforcement officer in North Carolina for 23 years. He served as chief of the Cape Carteret Police Department in 1999 and 2000.
Hopkins started his career in law enforcement in 1997 with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, where he advanced to the rank of sergeant. In October 2004, he began working with the Belhaven Police Department as the department’s lieutenant.