North Carolina
Law Enforcement Accreditation Network
Line of Duty Deaths
September 25, 2023
1:00 - 2:50 PM
Room 1
Room 1
When an officer is killed in the line of duty, it is a tragedy for their family, their coworkers, the department, and the community. The loss will test the agency’s level of preparedness and significantly strain their available resources. Most organizations will also be navigating a unique type of pain and very raw emotions for the first time. For smaller organizations, the logistical and psychological challenges of a line of duty death can be overwhelming. This presentation examines the LODD of Knightdale Police Officer Ryan Hayworth and the agency’s response. Knightdale Police Chief Lawrence Capps will provide an executive level perspective of the lessons learned, along with practical steps agencies can take to be better prepared.
About the Presenter(s)
Lawrence Capps
Chief of Police, Knightdale Police Department
Chief Lawrence Capps has served with the Knightdale Police Department for 12 years, and is a 24 year veteran of corrections and law enforcement. Capps previously held the rank of Captain within the organization, where he split his time supervising the agency’s Patrol and Support Services Divisions. His experiences also include municipal law enforcement service as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Criminal Investigator, and Shift Commander. Capps is certified as a Specialized Criminal Justice Instructor by the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
Chief Capps is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Liberty University with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's Degree in Executive Leadership. He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification from the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division. Chief Capps is a graduate of the 257th session of the FBI National Academy, and a current member of the Police Executive Research Forum, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the North Carolina Police Executives Association, the North Carolina Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates, and the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Capps is also a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Government's Municipal Administration course and the Public Executive Leadership Academy.