Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle has named Smithfield Police Officer Ricky Conerly as the April Johnston County Law Enforcement Officer of the Month.
Officer Conerly has been a law enforcement officer in Johnston County for eight years.
During that time, Officer Conerly has always been a stand out amongst his fellow officers at the Smithfield Police Department, Doyle said. In addition to his responsibilities as a patrol officer, Officer Conerly has spent time as a narcotics detective with the Smithfield Police Department. Officer Conerly’s passion for public safety is evident in every aspect of his work, particularly in his commitment to the pursuit of impaired drivers, Doyle added.
Doyle gave one example of Conerly’s dedication to his job.
“In 2009, Officer Conerly was called upon to investigate an extremely complex drug impaired driving case. In 2011, Officer Conerly brought this case to District Court and helped my office secure a conviction for drug impaired driving. Nearly six years after his initial investigation, Officer Conerly followed this same case throughout a lengthy appeals process and assisted my office in securing a final conviction for drug impaired driving at the Superior Court level. In the meantime, Officer Conerly became one of only three certified Drug Recognition Experts in Johnston County and began to supervise and train many young officers. The results of Officer Conerly’s influence are evident in the knowledge and professionalism those officers demonstrate as they process their own DWI cases,” Doyle said in a press release.
“We are lucky to have him serving our communities here in Johnston County, and we look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in the future.”
