Officer Profiles

• Department Award of Excellence

Officer Derius Johnson 

Officer Johnson is originally from Washington D.C.  Officer Johnson moved to North Carolina at the age of 10 where he grew up locally in the New Bern area.  At the age of 20 he joined the United States Navy and honorably served five years.  While in the Navy, Officer Johnson was deployed twice along with three detachments. Officer Johnson completed Basic Law Enforcement Training (B.L.E.T.) in January of 2019. 

He started his law enforcement career with the Pamlico County Sheriff's Office before being sworn as a Patrol Officer with the River Bend Police Department in June of 2021.  Officer Johnson has a General Certification through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.  He has an outgoing personality and enjoys serving the citizens of River Bend.  

• Chief's Award of Excellence

Officer Aaron Royston

Officer Royston was born in Greensboro, NC and attended Ragsdale High School where he competed in football, basketball, wrestled and ran track.  Graduating in 1999, he then attended Guilford Technical Community College while working at the PGA course at Sedgefield Country Club. 

Officer Royston moved to the New Bern area in 2016 where he married the love of his life, Rebekah.  Officer Royston is the father of six kids and when he finds free time he enjoys fishing, turkey hunting, model building, canoeing and landscaping.  Officer Royston has a strong fondness for animals. 

In July of 2021, Officer Royston graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training at Craven Community College.  He started his career in Law Enforcement at Emerald Island Police Department and later worked for New Bern Police Department.  Officer Royston has a General Certification through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.  As a resident of River Bend, he looks forward in serving the citizens in the community in which he lives among. 

• Department Award of Excellence

Officer Walker Hess

Officer Hess was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and went to Memorial High School where he competed in football and wrestling. After graduating in 2014, he began taking classes at Tulsa Community College and Rogers State University.

Walker moved to New Bern in January of 2021 to be closer to his family. In his free time he enjoys lifting weights, running, and trains in multiple martial arts. In 2022, he began volunteering at the Twin Rivers YMCA as a STRIDE coach where he mentors boys and gets to help spread his passion for fitness. 

In December, 2021, Walker graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training at Craven Community College. He began his career in Law Enforcement at Pamlico County Sheriff's Office and later transferred to the Vanceboro Police Department where he worked as a School Resource Officer.

Officer Hess is looking forward to serving the citizens of River Bend.

• Department Award of Excellence

Officer Madilyn Gawerecki

Officer Gawerecki was born in Oceanside, California but grew up in San Diego. Officer Gawerecki moved to North Carolina in 2008 and later graduated from Hillsborough High School where she competed in track and field. Right out of high school Officer Gawerecki began to compete in the figure division of the National Physique Committee making her way up to the Junior National Level. 

Officer Gawerecki began her law enforcement career working for 4 years at Pamlico Correctional Institution. While being part of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (formerly Department of Public Safety), Officer Gawerecki was a part of the Eastern Region Interdiction Team and later the Easter Region Prison Emergency Response (PERT) Team. Officer Gawerecki received the 2022 Pamlico CI Officer of the Year Award. In June 2023 Officer Gawerecki graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training night classes at Craven Community College. Late Fall of 2023 Officer Gawerecki swore in with the River Bend Police Department. Officer Gawerecki is a charismatic person who strives to serve the River Bend Community with professionalism and respect.

• Department Award of Excellence

Officer Marvin (Holt) Coleman Jr- Investigator

Officer Coleman Started his career in Law Enforcement in 1994 with the Warren County Sheriff office. He began as a patrol officer, then K/9 Handler and then Vice Narcotics Detective.

Holt left Warren County Sheriff office and went to Norlina Police Department where he was Promoted to Sergeant and K/9 handler. Holt and his wife then moved and put his son of school age in a better school system in Newton NC.

Holt was hired by Brookford Police department as a training instructor for the officers there. Holt became certified as a General Instructor for law enforcement officers. Holt handled grants for the department, and they received cars, alco sensors and bullet proof vests. During this time Holt was promoted to Sergeant and then Lieutenant. Holt also received Officer of the year.

Holt left this Department to go to Conover Police Department where he continued with patrol and community policing.

Holt felt the need to do something for his country and was recruited by the Department of State and Dyncorp International to become an International Police Officer and train Afghan Border Patrol and Afghan Police. During this time Holt was embedded with the military and stationed in Kabul and Kandahar, also on a forward operating base at the Afghanistan and Pakistan Border. Holt completed three tours of duty.

Holt completed his tours and then was stationed in Israel, Jordan and the corner of Iraq also training Police Officers at the Jordanian International Police Training Center.

Holt returned to the states and was hired by Caldwell County Sheriff Office for the next eleven years. During this time Holt performed as a patrol officer, bailiff, school resource officer and field training officer. Holt was promoted to detective where he investigated general crimes, major crimes including homicide. Holt was wounded in the line of duty and honored with the Medal of Valor for his actions. Holt was honored as Employee of the year.

Holt retired and moved to River Bend with his wife to enjoy his hobbies of fishing, walking and spending time with his wife, Nancy Coleman and his K/9 German Shepard Maverick.

Holt has one son, Landon Holt Coleman who resides in Greenville SC.

Officer James Garland Herring III

Officer Herring is local to the eastern NC area. He started his career in 2020 with Vanceboro PD and then Pamlico County Sheriff’s office. Officer Herring attended New Bern High School graduating in 2010. Officer Herring earned an Associate’s Degree in Arts at Craven Community College.  Officer Herring served in the US Army from 2011-2017 as an Infantryman receiving an Honorable Discharge as a Sergeant. Officer Herring is grateful for the opportunity to service with the River Bend Police Department and the citizens of River Bend.

Officer Herring has continued his education in Law Enforcement earning the following certifications: 

• Police Law Institute 
• Child Death Investigations 
• Drug Enforcement for Patrol 
• Standardized Field Sobriety Testing 
• Radar Operator 
• Crisis Intervention Training 
• Verbal Judo 
• Solo Active Shooter Response 
• School Resource Officer 
• Advanced School Resource Officer 
• Officer Safety Courses in Traffic Stops, Domestic Violence, Robbery Response, and Building Searches 
• Survival Tactics 
• Vehicle Extractions 

Corporal Bryan DeVaughn II

Officer DeVaughn is a native of Maysville, NC but moved to New Bern as a teenager. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from North Carolina A&T State University in Criminal Justice as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.  Officer DeVaughn spent 10 years in the military, serving in the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and the Air Force Reserve.

Officer DeVaughn graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training in 2011 at Guilford Tech Community College and started his career with the Winston Salem State University Police Department in 2012. From there he went on to serve with the NC Central University Police Department, Durham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maysville Police Department.

He holds an Advance Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Sheriff's Training and Standards Commission and has graduated from the West Point Leadership Program from Methodist University. Officer DeVaughn is excited to be a part of the River Bend Police Department.