Garner Police Promote Seven Officers

From left: Sgt. Michael Medlin, Sgt. David Casteline, Sgt. Charon Guffey, Capt. Lorie Smith, Chief Brandon Zuidema, Lt. Paul Caldwell, Sgt. Jason Jones and Sgt. Brian Lawrence

The Garner Police Department held a promotions ceremony Sept. 29th to promote seven officers:

David Casteline

Casteline was born in Binghamton, NY, and graduated from Chenango Forks High School in 1995. He earned his B.S. in Criminal Justice and joined the Garner Police Department in January 2003. He has served in many roles such as field training officer, special response team, gang investigator, FBI task force participant, crisis negotiator, general investigator, platoon leader, acting sergeant and was promoted to sergeant. 

Andre C. Guffey

Guffey was born in Greensboro. He graduated from Southeast Guilford High School in 1995 and graduated from Guilford Technical Community College with this BLET. He is currently pursuing his B.S. in Criminal Justice from Liberty University. Prior to joining the Garner Police Department in May 2013 Charon worked for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. He has served as a patrol officer and on the Impact team, and was promoted to sergeant.

Jason Jones

Jones was born and reared in Denver. After graduating from Denver Academy in 2001 he attended college ay BYU-Idaho. He joined the Garner Police Department in 2008. He has served in many roles such as Special Ops (E Platoon), Special Response Team, general investigator, drug investigator, platoon leader and was promoted tosergeant. 

Brian Lawrence

Lawrence was born at Fort Bragg and graduated from Wake Tech BLET in 2003. He joined the Garner Police Department in August 2003. He has served in many roles such as platoon leader, traffic safety officer, field training officer, investigator and was promoted to sergeant.

Michael Medlin

Medlin was born in Raleigh and grew up in Garner. He joined the Garner Police Department in early 2009 as a Reserve Officer and then full time in July 2009. Medlin graduated from Wake Tech Community College in 2005 with an Associates Degree in Arts, and from NC State University in May 2008 with a B.S. in Criminology. He has served in many roles such as Special Ops (E Platoon), crisis negotiator, Special Response Team, field training officer, school resource officer, platoon leader and was promoted to sergeant.

Paul Caldwell

Caldwell was born in Catawba County and grew up outside of Newton. After graduating from Bandy High School in 1989 he received his B.S. in Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Political Science from UNC Charlotte in 1994. He joined the Garner Police Department in January 1997. He has served in many roles such as field training officer, school resource officer, Special Response Team, platoon leader, investigator, sergeant and was promoted to lieutenant. 

Lorie Smith

Smith was born in Raleigh and grew up in Garner. She joined the Garner Police Department in August 1997. Smith received her B.A. in Sociology from NC State University in 1996, graduated from the Management Development Program from the NC Justice Academy in 2013, the Administrative Officers Management Program from NC State University in 2014, West Point Leadership from Methodist University in 2015 and received her Master’s in Justice Administration from Methodist University in 2015. She has been a D.A.R.E. officer, crisis negotiator, team leader, team commander, promoted to sergeant in 2004, lieutenant in 2015 and most recently to captain.