New Highway Patrol commander takes oath

Col. Walter J. Wilson Jr. took the oath Wednesday from state Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker.

Lt. Col. Jamie Hatcher also took the oath as deputy commander.

Wilson is a 28-year veteran of the patrol appointed last month by Gov. Mike Easley after Col. W. Fletcher Clay said he would leave the position after four years.

The change comes after one trooper was fired for abusing his police dog in a case where a judge said he should be rehired.

Another was sentenced to prison on charges of making unwanted sexual advances to women he stopped.

The patrol also acknowledged incidents of troopers having sex on duty.