Hickory Police

Captain Thurman Whisnant

Captain Thurman Whisnant is Commander of the (CID) Criminal Investigations Division. CID is the smallest of Hickory Police Department's three divisions. CID plays an important role in supporting the Patrol Division. Sixteen personnel are assigned to CID. Fourteen of those assigned are sworn officers and one civilian. The Criminal Investigations Division is divided into three main units, General Investigations, Narcotics/Vice and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Captain Thurman Whisnant started with Hickory Police Department in 1994 and has served as a road officer, criminal investigator, supervisor in Edward P.A.C.T. and commander in David P.A.C.T.

Captain Whisnant graduated from Appalachian State University and is a graduate of the 230th session of the FBI National Academy and member of the North Carolina Law Enforcement Officer’s Association and North Carolina Police Executives Association. Whisnant and his wife, Donna, live in Hickory with their two children, Madison and Colton.

The General Investigations Unit is comprised of seven investigators, two Crime Scene Investigators and supervisor Sgt. Scott Hildebrand. The Narcotics/Vice Unit is comprised of three investigators and one supervisor. The Victim’s Services Coordinator reports directly to the CID commander and works with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit.

The Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for both reactive and proactive investigations of criminal activity affecting our citizens and visitors to our city. The crimes/incidents generally assigned to CID personnel for investigation are the most serious occurring in the city. Due to the often-complex nature of the work performed by investigators, some of the most experienced and highly trained officers in the department are assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division.