Spring Lake looks to restore police powers

Spring Lake judicial leaders approved a plan this week to restore the local police department’s powers by the summer.

The department was stripped of law enforcement authority amid a criminal investigation that forced the resignation of Chief A.C. Brown.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office took over duties in Spring Lake on May 6, 2009, after two officers were arrested on charges including home invasion and falsifying evidence. Brown resigned amid reports that he and another officer were shredding files, and a judge put the State Bureau of Investigation in charge of all police files.

Troy McDuffie took over as the new police chief nearly a year ago.