Police Officers

Deputy Police Chief Melissa Clark

Deputy Police Chief Melissa “Missy” Clark is a native of the Outer Banks. Lieutenant Clark attended East Carolina University studying exercise and sport science with an emphasis on cardiac rehabilitation.

Deputy Chief Clark began her law enforcement career in 2002 with the Kill Devil Hills Police Department. She served in the Patrol Division as a patrol officer before going to the Criminal Investigations Division as a narcotics officer. In 2006, she accepted a position with the Southern Shores Police Department where she continued her work in both patrol and as an investigator.

Deputy Chief Clark comes to Duck with over 2,100 hours of Law Enforcement Training. She joined the department in December 2010. Deputy Chief Clark holds a General Instructor Certification with a specialized certification in Subject Control and Arrest Techniques/ Defensive Tactics. She is currently working towards her Tactical Certification which consists of 500 hours of specialized tactical training.

“Through my affiliation as a volunteer firefighter with the Duck Volunteer Fire Department, I have had the opportunity to become familiar with the Town and its citizens. This is a wonderful community, and I enjoy serving here.”

Click here to e-mail Deputy Chief Clark.

Sergeant Timothy Armstrong

Sergeant Timothy Armstrong became a police officer with the Winterville Police Department in 2008. Having served four years with Winterville, he became employed by Nags Head Police Department in 2012. Sergeant Armstrong comes to the Town of Duck Police Department with nearly 10 years of experience. He has earned an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Pitt College, and is currently about to meet all the requirements for his Advanced Certificate.

Sergeant Armstrong is a well-rounded officer, and much of his training and experience is in special units and divisions. He has served with the DARE County SWAT Task Force for 4 years and is responsible for serving many high-risk warrants and other special tasks. Sergeant Armstrong is a true asset to the Town of Duck Police Department and he has an expressed gratitude for this opportunity.

Click here to e-mail Sergeant Armstrong.

Senior Sergeant Joe Knight

Senior Sergeant Joe Knight comes to the Duck Police Department with over 7 years of law enforcement experience. He started his career as a Patrol Deputy with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office and then moved to the Kill Devil Hills Police Department where he worked as a Patrol Officer and spent time as an Investigator. Sergeant Knight has been awarded the NC Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate. He is also a speed measurement instrument operator, certified IPMBA bike patrol officer, and a field training officer.

Before his law enforcement career, Senior Sergeant Knight attended Purdue University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Society with a minor in Psychology.

Senior Sergeant Knight is excited to work for the Town of Duck saying, “I am happy to work for a community that is supportive of its Public Safety. The residents and Town administration have made me feel really welcome!”

Click here to e-mail Senior Sergeant Knight.

Corporal John Gilreath

Corporal John Gilreath graduated from Tarheel Challenge Academy at the age of 17 and soon enlisted in the Army. After completing his service in the military, he graduated Basic Law Enforcement Training.  He comes to the Town of Duck with over 12 years of law enforcement experience and a wealth of training.  He holds both a Traffic Reconstruction Certificate and an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate.

Click here to e-mail Corporal Gilreath.

Senior Police Officer Jeremy Davis

Senior Police Officer Jeremy Davis comes to the Town of Duck Police Department with over 3 years of law enforcement experience from the Henrico County Police Department in Virginia.  Davis served five years active duty in the United States Marine Corps as a helicopter crew chief and mechanic. After being honorably discharged, he attended Old Dominion University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, graduating with the highest of honors. Officer Davis looks forward to a career with the Town of Duck Police Department and becoming a member of the community.

Click here to e-mail Officer Davis.

Senior Police Officer Mitchell Ardinger

Senior Police Officer Mitchell Ardinger comes to the Town of Duck Police Department with over 3 years of law enforcement experience from the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia. During that time, Officer Ardinger was assigned patrol in the Woodbridge area and was a member of the part-time bike team. Officer Ardinger attended Randolph-Macon College in Virginia where he played four years of college football and graduated with a sociology degree. Officer Ardinger looks forward to serving this great community.

Click here to e-mail Officer Ardinger.

Senior Police Officer Nathan Mauffray

Senior Police Officer Nathan Mauffray was raised in Columbia, NC. After receiving his BLET certification at Beaufort County Community College in 2010, he began his law enforcement career in his hometown of Columbia as a Sheriff’s Deputy. Officer Mauffray then gained experience in Washington and Dare Counties as a Sheriff’s Deputy. He joined the Duck Police Department in 2021 bringing nearly 11 years of experience with varied aspects of the job.

Officer Mauffray feels at home in Duck and enjoys the positive atmosphere in the community. He looks forward to serving the great citizens of Duck and getting to know the community.

Click here to e-mail Officer Mauffray.

Senior Police Officer
Kelly Mears

Officer Kelly Mears was raised in Port Tobacco, Maryland. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Denver and Eastern Connecticut State University. She graduated with a degree in Political Science with a History Minor. While in college, she swam on the varsity swim team.

Officer Mears completed her BLET certification from Cape Fear Community College. She began her law enforcement career at the Dare County Sheriff’s Office. While at the Sheriff’s Office, she was assigned to the Patrol Division and later promoted to the Impact Unit. She comes to the Town of Duck with about 6 years of experience.

Officer Mears is excited to be a part of the Town of Duck family and get to know the folks in the community!

Click here to email Officer Mears.

Senior Police Officer Jeremy Hemilright

Officer Hemilright completed basic law enforcement training at the College of the Albemarle in Manteo in 2002.  He came to Duck Police Department with over 20 years of experience.  Officer Hemilright is certified to instruct on firearms, pepper ball, rapid deployment, and simunitions, and he is a certified law enforcement sniper.  Officer Hemilright holds a tactical certificate as well as an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate.     

Officer Hemilright enjoys community policing and is excited to be a member of the Duck Police Department where he can promote positive interactions with the public. 

Click here to email Jeremy.

Police Officer Blake Cutrell

Police Officer Blake Cutrell was raised in Fairfield, NC.  He received his BLET certification from Pitt Community College and comes to Duck Police Department with 7 years of prior law enforcement experience and numerous training hours.  Blake has also been employed as an EMT and a Correctional Officer.

The community oriented feeling that the Town of Duck presents makes Blake eager to serve the community and expand his career with the Duck Police Department.

Click here to email Blake.

Police Officer Richard Deaner

Officer Richard Deaner comes to the Duck Police Department with over 13 years of law enforcement experience. He graduated from the West Virginia State Police Academy in 2011 and worked for the Morgantown, WV Police Department for over 9 years, where he served as a patrol sergeant, field training officer, and law enforcement instructor.

Officer Deaner relocated to the Outer Banks in 2021 and completed North Carolina BLET at the College of the Albemarle in 2022. He has earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Eastern Gateway Community College and plans to continue his formal education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University.

Officer Deaner enjoys working with his colleagues and the community members in the Town of Duck.

Click here to email Richard.

Public Safety Office Administrator Beverlee Davis

Beverlee relocated to the Outer Banks area from Roanoke Virginia full time with her husband in November of 2022.  Beverlee has spent the last 26 years working in higher education where she held positions in the Development office, Office of Admission, and spent the last 14 years in Financial Aid.  She is a graduate of Elizabeth Brant School of Business, studied at Blue Ridge Community College and Hollins University where she took accounting and business courses.  Beverlee holds several completed course certifications in both banking and Financial Aid.  “I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated group of professionals in public safety and the Town of Duck and to work in such a beautiful area, “The Outer Banks”, that my husband and I now call home.”

Click here to email Beverlee.