RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today appointed Walter J. Wilson, Jr. as the next Colonel of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP).  In addition, Easley appointed Jamie J. Hatcher as Lt. Colonel.  Wilson replaces Colonel Fletcher Clay who is retiring June 30.  Hatcher replaces Lt. Colonel Cecil Lockley who retired earlier this month.  Both Wilson and Hatcher, who are currently serving as majors in the Patrol, will assume their new roles July 1st. 

“These men have demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout their careers in the Patrol,” said Easley.  “I am confident the team of Wilson and Hatcher, along with the majors with whom they work, will provide strong and steady guidance to the 1,800 officers in the Patrol who risk their lives to protect all of us each time they put on their uniforms.”

Wilson, a Tarboro native, has served on the Patrol since 1980 when he was first assigned to Troop C in Wake County.  He was promoted to line sergeant in 1989, first sergeant in 1992, lieutenant in 1996, captain in 2002 and major in 2004.  Wilson earned his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Campbell University and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute in Louisville and the FBI National Academy in Quantico.  Wilson is a member of the Memorial Baptist Church in Greenville and the Southern Police Institute Association.

Hatcher, a Duplin County native, joined the Patrol in 1982 and was first assigned to Troop A in Bertie County.  He was promoted to line sergeant in 1992, first sergeant in 1995, lieutenant in 1999, captain in 2002 and major in 2005.  Hatcher is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the Administrative Officers' Management Program at N.C. State University.  He is a member of Highland Baptist Church in Garner and the North Carolina and National Internal Affairs Investigators Associations.

Both men are also members of the N.C. Police Executives Association, the FBI National Academy Association and International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was created in 1929 to make the highways of North Carolina as safe as possible.  The Patrol now employs 1,823 troopers to cover more than 78,000 miles of North Carolina roadways.

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