SPECIAL

‘Respect, relationships, community’ keys to Helton’s success

Bill Poteat
bpoteat@gastongazette.com
Gastonia Police Chief Rob Helton sits at is desk at the Gastonia Police Department on Long Avenue Thursday morning, July 2, 2020.

Sit down for a conversation with soon-to-retire Gastonia Police Chief Robert Helton and three words keeping coming up: respect, relationships, and community.

Helton, 54, who will be stepping down from his leadership position on the final day of September, has been a member of the Gastonia Police for 34 years.

During that time, he has served in a variety of roles, including being a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer, an investigator, and working in the department’s community policing effort.

He rose steadily through the ranks, being promoted to sergeant in 1998, captain in 2006, assistant chief in 2011, and chief on Oct. 1, 2014.

When he began as a rookie patrol officer in 1987, Helton said he had no idea he would spend his entire career in Gastonia or that he would rise to chief.

He did, know, however, that he wanted a career that was challenging, that involved working with people, and that promised never to be dull or routine.

Growing Up

Helton grew up in the Sunrise Park neighborhood of Gastonia, attending Sherwood and Woodhill elementaries, Grier Middle, and in 1984 was graduated from Ashbrook High School.

His first “real job,” as he puts it, was as a delivery boy for The Gaston Gazette, an experience which, indirectly, pushed Helton toward his law enforcement career.

“I got to meet a lot of people,” he remembered. “I got to interact with a lot of people. That served to teach me some very valuable people skills. How to talk with people. How to relate to people.”

Three of the people Helton met in his neighborhood were police officers. He remembers loving to listen to their stories and to look at their patrol cars.

As he wrapped up his high school career, Helton considered joining the military, but instead followed his mother’s advice and entered the criminal justice program at Gaston College.

It was as he was finishing up his time at the college that he was recruited to join his hometown police department as a rookie patrol officer.

Leadership

“I never really thought about becoming chief,” Helton recalled. “Until I was promoted to assistant chief. But the opportunity came, and it has certainly been a great honor for me to serve.”

While working full time, Helton received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Gardner-Webb University and was also a 2005 graduate of the 221st session of the FBI National Academy.

Asked what he is most proud of about his tenure as chief, Helton responded, “That we, and by ‘we’ I mean the department, have a good relationship with this community and its people. A relationship marked by respect on both sides.”

Helton spoke in particular about the department working with the Gaston Clergy and Citizens Coalition to develop a “covenant” between the department and the community.

“That covenant has helped get us through some very tough times,” Helton said. “It has allowed us to come to the table. Speak respectfully to each other. And work things out.”

Another aid to him over the years has been the support the department has received from Gastonia’s mayors, council members, and city managers.

“I have been so fortunate to have good support,” he said. “I have always felt that the people in city government care about this department and watch out for us.”

Departmental unity

As chief, Helton supervises a department with 178 sworn officers and 25 support personnel. “We’re large enough to have specializations,” he said, “but small enough to still know each other.”

Underlying the entire department, Helton added, is the certainty that officers can depend upon each other and will always protect each other.

“What other profession can you go into where your co-workers are literally willing to lay down their lives for you?” he asked. “Knowing you have that support makes the stress and the danger of the job a little easier to deal with.”

Helton compared the dangers of police work to the dangers of his favorite hobby — riding a motorcycle.

“Yes, there are dangers involved,” he said. “Anything could happen to any one of us any day. But we’re trained to do things the right way. And we support each other. My wife and my parents worry about the dangers of this job more than I do.”

Advice and the future

As to what advice he might offer to the person who will become chief in October, Helton kept it short and simple:

“Be open. Be honest. Be ready to listen. Build transparency. Develop a strong level of trust with your people and with the community.”

And what will Helton be doing when he leaves his office for the last time on Sept. 30?

“I want to take a breather,” he said. “I want to turn off my cell phones and relax with my family, knowing that nothing is going to happen to interrupt what we are doing.”

As noted earlier, Helton loves to ride his motorcycle and he plans to make lots of rides. A dedicated hiker, he also plans on spending a lot of time in the woods.

In excellent health at 54 and with a lot of years ahead of him, Helton says he likely will return to work in some capacity at some point in the future.

But right now, that’s not on his radar.

“I’m ready to just enjoy life and enjoy my family,” he said.

Bill Poteat, who tries to strike a balance betwen part-time work and part-time retirement, may be reached at 704-869-1855 or bpoteat@gastongazette.com.

Gastonia Police Chief Rob Helton  poses in his office at the Gastonia Police Department on Long Avenue Thursday morning, July 2, 2020.