26 officers gain promotions in Durham Police Department

DURHAM -- The Durham Police Department on Friday announced the promotion of 26 officers, including two associated with the Duke lacrosse case: one who initially encountered the accuser and the other who is being sued by the former players.

Sgt. J.C. Shelton, the first officer to interact with Crystal Gail Mangum, who said she had been raped at an off-campus lacrosse team party, is being promoted to lieutenant, along with two other sergeants, A.R. Marsh Sr. and R.W. McLaughlin Jr. Shelton was skeptical of Mangum's story and thought she was lying. That opinion, which he voiced loudly at Duke Hospital, made him unpopular with fellow officers and former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong.

Shelton will be the executive officer in the administrative services bureau. Marsh will become an assistant commander in District Five (downtown), and McLaughlin will be one of four watch commanders, who oversee all patrol officers and respond to major incidents during a shift.

Cpl. David Addison, listed in a lawsuit filed by the Duke lacrosse case's three defendants, has been promoted to sergeant, along with Cpls. H.L. Allen, M.D. Berendsen, D. Edwards, A.L. Gooch, B.D. Reitz, T.G. Sembly and G.C. Zeipekkis.

Addison is listed in the lawsuit because, it contends, he ignored or was deliberately indifferent to evidence demonstrating the innocence of the three lacrosse players charged in the case. Addison, as police spokesman, made statements defaming the three, the lawsuit said. The three players were subsequently exonerated.

Addison, along with the other promoted corporals, will work in uniformed patrol.

Lts. L.L. Clyburn, J.M. Peter and L.C. Smith were promoted to captain and will become district commanders. Clyburn will oversee District Five, Peter will be in charge of District Three (West Durham), and Smith will handle District Two (North Durham). Twelve officers were promoted to corporal and will work in uniformed patrol.

"These officers have served in many areas of the department and bring a wealth of training and experience to their positions," Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr. said in a written statement.

The department will hold a promotion ceremony at 2 p.m. Thursday at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, 504 W. Chapel Hill St.