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photo by Steve VanGunda
Tapper Hendricks, accompanied by his wife Kristin and daughter Caitlyn, is sworn in as Vidalia’s newest Chief of Police.
Hendricks becomes Vidalia police chief
Published Wednesday, July 2, 2008
VIDALIA — Sitting on a friend’s porch 12 years ago, Ronnie G. “Tapper” Hendricks first shared his dream of becoming chief of police, and Tuesday, surrounded by his family and with his hand on the Bible, he took his oath of office.
Judge George Murray administered the oath of office, and Hendricks said he was grateful to be able to serve as police chief but that Tuesday he was feeling overwhelmed.
“I believe you can already see a change in the police department, and I know there is already a change in me,” Hendricks said.
“We are going to make this community a safer place for our kids to grow up and for our families,” he said. “I am going to serve you well.”
After Hendricks was sworn in, Murray followed by administering the oath of office to the entire Vidalia Police Department.
Incumbent Mayor Hyram Copeland and aldermen Jon Betts, Triand “Tron” McCoy, Ricky Knapp and Vernon Stevens also renewed their oaths of office Tuesday.
Alderman Maureen “Mo” Saunders was not present due to a sickness in her family.
Copeland has been mayor since 1992, but he began his political career in Vidalia when he was elected an alderman in 1976.
“Someone asked me back then why I ran, and I said, ‘I felt I could make a difference,’” Copeland said. “That started a political career of eight terms.”
During his terms as mayor, Copeland said he has been blessed with a good board of aldermen that doesn’t always agree but always has the best interest of Vidalia at heart.
“When we walk out of the door after every meeting we shake hands,” he said.
Part of the city’s recent boom can be attributed to its tenacity, Copeland said.
“We do not accept the word ‘no,’” Copeland said.
But there was another factor — one that made him take an emotional pause — that contributed to his personal success, Copeland said.
“If there is anyone who is responsible for who you are, it is family,” he said.
Beginning his second term as District 1 alderman, McCoy said the goal of the board is to keep Vidalia a city on the move.
“The thing I have learned most is I am a servant to the people,” McCoy said.
Though he does not always agree with Copeland, Betts said one thing they can agree on is the future of Vidalia.
“If we stay positive and work together, it will be the kind of place we want to call home and other people will want to call home,” Betts said.
Comments
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 1:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmm sure was a wild crowd last night at the new El Rancho They even announced him over the intercome. Hope he changes alot of things like patrol.Here at my home people run the stop sign all the time. No body hardly stops!
Posted by emp (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope he does something about the people with loud music driving through neighborhoods.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope a cerfew gets set for Vidalia (nobody walking the streets after 10pm). If he is going to do away with loud music, how about loud music and loud pipes?
Picture_music101, I have also noticed a lot of people running stop signs in the neighborhoods. Maybe we should take pictures of their license plates and send them to Tapper.
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sure the list is long of everybodys wants and needs for their particular situations........ I could never serve the public in this capacity. I deal with the public everyday, there is no way to make everybody happy.... and satisfied..... as much as you may try..... I just hope the man is honest and has a good conscience. He will do the best he can if that is the case....
Posted by justayappin (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congradulations Tapper!! I believe in you and you have the will to change what you see needs to be changed.
I agree with all the comments on the loud music..... I hate it! I call the VPD everytime I hear hit, see someone run the stop sign, or driving too fast....I get a tag #, and I will go look for them myself. I don't care who you are or who your parents are ... don't speed, don't run a stop sign or have your music load. I hate admitting this, but I have turned into my parents now that I have children of my own and I could be worse!!!!!
Prayers are with you Tapper!!!!!
Posted by vidaliagal23 (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i think tapper is going to do a GREAT JOB. he just took office yesterday so i think you should hold off your list for a few days! GOOD LUCK TAPPER!!
Posted by bellarose1 (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you, vidaliagal23!! You see, I have a unique prospective on him as a father and friend and now as your Chief. He has dreamed of this day for as long as I can remember!! I know for a fact that he will give his community 110%! He will not let YOU (the citizens of Vidalia)down; in fact, he started charting this course years and years ago!! His dream has finally been made into a reality and that is to give back to the community that has given so much to him!! Congratulations Tapper!! I am proud of you and I know that you will do a great job!
Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i just have a question justayappin if you find the people that are running stop signs are driving to fast or that have their music too loud exactly what are you going to do?
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lol@lookingout.....Good question though..
Posted by geauxtigersgeaux (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WAY TO GO TAPPER! I have so much belief in you that you will make this community a better place live. I too saw him last night at El Ranchero and yes he was celebrating but wouldn't you?! I'm very excited to see what his agenda is going to be and how it play out for us.
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 8:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was at El Ranchero last night. The people at his table were his family. They were many children and the celebration did not get out of hand.
Posted by justayappin (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lookingout..... I have followed them and ask them to turn the music down or slow down in the neighborhood. I didn't say that "I made an arrest"!!!!! When calling the PD, they ask for a tag number so they can run it. People run the stop signs and speed through the neighborhood like crazy... we have alot of children in this area. It needs to stop!!! Why not be able to give the PD what they ask for in order to stop them.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
justayappin thats a good way to get your kids without a daddy....You better let the cops do there job....
Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 10:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
even if you do give them a tag number there is nothing the pd can do about it they have to catch you breaking the law.... just because someone says they are doing something doesnt mean anything
Posted by kilabe (anonymous) on July 2, 2008 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what neighborhood??!! I'm w/ you fire39212 let the cops handle it, one of those loud music playing or running stop signs kids may come roll your house. That would be awful, but nothing the cops can do about it. You know.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 12:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If he runs down the wrong one. There will be another artical about a shooting....They may feel threatend....Then there his kids will be without a daddy cause he wanted to play cop...
Posted by him2her (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tell you what i do. I roll a basket ball in front of their car when they come to fast down my road. They slam on their brakes , then i tell them that could have been one of the kids on my street, then i ask them if they would PLEASE slow it down most of the time they say they are sorry.
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone that gets a raise in pay before they go into office can afford to celebrate!
Before everyone starts congratulating him let's see what kind of job he does & if it will last longer than him many previous jobs.
I will admit he did something that he hasn't done to me in years & that was to speak & to my surprise he knew my name.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
him2her i hope you don't cause a wreck doing such a thing. what would the charges be there? If they were to hit something and kill them or flip over....
Posted by him2her (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fire39212 We are talking about a neighborhood street not a highway. What if they were to hit someone's child and kill them or disable them for life? What would the charges be there??? It is a driver's responsibility to drive at a speed that enables them to control their vehicles. Children are not always able to make those decisions, if so they would be driving too!!!!!
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