HUNSUCKER

From Page 1 we moved to Gaston County where dad served as the Police Chief at the Bessemer City Police Department prior to serving as the Chief of Police at the Cherryville Police Department.”

Brandon said, “It was a great privilege for me to attend BLET at Isothermal Community College, the program my dad started.”

Chief Hunsucker said his dad later retired from the Gaston County Police Department with over 32 years of service in Law Enforcement.

“Dad has always been my hero and one of my biggest supporters. It is an extreme honor to follow in his footsteps as the first father and son Police Chiefs for the City of Cherryville. My dad and stepmother currently reside in Wilkesboro, N.C.,” he said.

Chief Hunsucker began his own law enforcement career at the Gastonia Police Department where he served for 10 years, serving as a patrolman, field training officer, and later being assigned as a K-9 handler, which he noted, “…was an extremely rewarding position that I held until joining the Lincolnton Police Department.”

Hunsucker continued, “In 2006 I joined the Lincolnton Police Department Patrol division. After serving a year I was tasked with starting a K-9 unit, where I was instrumental in the purchase, training and outfitting of a second K-9 unit along with writing policy and procedures.”

While serving as a K-9 traffic officer in the Community Services Division Brandon said he attended Instructors School, Specialized Firearms Instructor School, Driving Instructor School, and Rapid Deployment Instructors School.

In 2010, Chief Hunsucker noted he accepted the position of School Resource Officer at Lincolnton High School, where he served until being promoted to ser- tion booth in the middle of summer. At 16 years old, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime to try out for the Boston Red Sox, as he had a strong arm. It was an experience he would never forget. A veteran of the military, he then built a lifelong career in the U.S. State Department, which took him and his family all over the world. Upon retirement, he held the position of Deputy Director of the Executive Management Staff, Asia and the Near East/EMS for the USAID in Washington, DC. geant where he supervised multiple officers.

Bill White was predeceased by his cherished sisters, Rosie Mae Sellers and Ruth Leonhardt of Cherryville; his brother, Reeves White of Taylorsville; and an infant brother and sister.

Surviving family include his wife, Rosette; his son, Michael White; his daughters, Terry Roberts, Patty White, and Grace Higa; grandchildren, Jared Roberts; Layla Forrest-White; Lina Vignelli; Kyle Higa and Bianca Higa; two great-grandsons, Cayden and Austen Roberts; and numerous nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his wife’s daughters from a previous marriage, Nathalie and Valerie VanHeusden, and their children, Marina Keckhut and Alexandra and Sebastien Guillot.

His family are planning to get together in June for a celebration of his life.

“I later transferred into the Investigations Unit investigating felony crimes against people and property. I accepted a position in the Narcotics Division, investigating major drug cases and money laundering, all while being assigned to a full-time position on a Federal Task force with DEA,” he said.

In 2022, Chief Hunsucker said he was “…honored to accept an adjunct instructor’s position at the N.C. Justice Academy in the Specialized Firearms Instructors Course.”

He continued, “I have assisted in teaching those instructors how to provide the necessary training to other police officers.”

For Chief Hunsucker, teaching firearms and firearms instruction is a true passion.

He clarified, “Approximately nine years ago I began teaching firearms and other officer training at the Cherryville Police Department while building bonds with the department. During that time, I have volunteered countless hours to help the department with firearms and training, along with installing equipment in patrol vehicles. In November of 2022, while teaching firearms for the officers of Cherryville Police Department, Chief Jenks announced he was leaving the department.

“At that moment I knew that I wanted to apply for the position of Chief of Police, so that I could continue to make a difference in my community. The day the position opened I immediately sent in my application along with a resume.