PROFILE OF MARC BENSON'S CAREER

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EDUCATED, DECORATED,& PROUD TO SERVE

Marc Benson is a graduate and a Past President of the FBI National Academy. FBINA is the most respected training center for law enforcement officers all over the world.The Academy is located in Quantico, VA.

FBI National Academy Website

Marc worked recently in Pender County with the honorable Sheriff Carson Smith. He sometimes would logs over 400 miles a day insuring safety in his territory. He enjoyed the friendship and professional dedication of many fine law enforcement officers he met while in Pender. It is with mixed emotions that he left to begin working in the private sector.

While working for the New Hanover County Sheriff, Marc was honored with several awards. His career experience placed him in several departments. He worked as a drug agent, a vice detective, a patrol deputy and a lead investigator. He resigned from the Sheriff's Office as a Lieutenant in good standing.

In the beginning of Marc's law enforcement career he got his start at Wrightsville Beach where he served as an auxiliary police officer as well as the head lifeguard and volunteer fireman. While fighting a fire Marc rescued a fallen firefighter and was awarded the Certificate of Merit.

Marc has no aspirations to run for ANY political office ever again.

Even though Marc received some 20,000 votes, he failed by a few percentage points to win the race for Sheriff. The contest was a bitter struggle for all concerned.

Although flattered with the good showing and the many people, who still even today, come up to him and shake his hand, Marc has no desire to get back into politics.

Marc's time away from law enforcement was spent with his brother Tre working on national television commercials.

While working on the commercials Marc had the opportunity to work along side and meet many celebrities. His most enjoyable experience was working with the late Dale Earnhardt.

Marc was awarded Law Enforcement Man of the Year for his work on capturing and convicting the murderers of teenager Danny Pence.

Todd Boggess, now 27, was convicted of 1st-degree murder in 1997 and was sentenced to die for fatally beating Wilmington student Danny Pence in woods in northern Durham County.

Melanie Gray, who was 15 at the time, was allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of 2nd-degree murder and was sentenced to between 9 and 11- 1/2 years in prison.

Boggess contended all along that Gray coaxed him into killing Pence because she liked Ford Mustangs. Evidence showed that Boggess and Gray stole Pence's Mustang and kidnapped him from the Wilmington area before killing him in Durham.

"Melanie told me what to do," Boggess said in a 1997 death row interview with The Herald-Sun. "I did it. ... I didn't care about myself or anyone else. It didn't matter to me if I stole a car or the Empire State Building. I was bent on self-destruction."

MARC BENSON

PO BOX 3305
WILMINGTON, NC 29406

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

Email Marc for consultation

CAREER BACKGROUND

DEPUTY SHERIFF- Retired July 2004
Pender County Sheriff's office Burgaw, NC
Worked under Sheriff Carson H. Smith Jr. answering calls of assistance from citizens of Pender County.

SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER (11/97 TO 01/01)
New Hanover Health Network Wilmington, NC
Responsibilities as a Special Police Officer for New Hanover Health Network were extremely diverse:
Served as Lieutenant in charge of all criminal investigations of crimes committed on NHHN property.
Conducted background investigations on all applicants for employment within the Network.
Responsible for orienting all new employees to the duties of the Special Police.
Served on multiple committees with emphasis on training, writing and revising policies, and developing plans for ensuring a safe and secure work environment.
Prepared and submitted budget for contract services.
Coordinated and assisted other agencies in related criminal investigations.

DEPUTY SHERIFF (04/83 TO 09/97)
New Hanover County Sheriff's Office Wilmington, NC
During my fourteen year career with the Sheriff's Department, responsibilities ranged from those associated with the position of new patrol deputy to Assistant Division Commander for the Detective Division. Demonstration of ability and knowledge in criminal investigation resulted in advancement to positions of increasing responsibility. The following is an overview of responsibilities held during my career at the Sheriff's Department:

LIEUTENANT, DETECTIVE DIVISION
Supervised and managed an office of fifteen criminal investigators.
Ensured appropriate behavior/actions from all investigators based on NC State Law and the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office guidelines/policies/procedures.
Preparation and control of the Detective Division's annual budget.

SERGEANT, DETECTIVE DIVISION
Responsible for time and attendance of personnel.
Coordinated and assigned criminal investigation cases to detective team.
Compiled monthly crime statistics.
Followed up on citizen complaints and concerns.
Nominated by Sheriff McQueen as the first under his command to attend the FBI National Academy - the most prestigious law enforcement training in the world. Completed this course and graduated in March 1995 from the 180th session.

COMMANDER, NHCSD ORGANIZED CRIME DRUG TASK FORCE
Managed historical drug cases involving major drug traffickers in the New Hanover County area.
Collaborated with multiple jurisdictions establishing a sound rapport with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Responsible for assignment of cases, compiling statistics and budgeting.

INVESTIGATOR, VICE NARCOTICS
Investigated vice/narcotics crimes in New Hanover County, including the inner limits of the city of Wilmington and all incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county.
Coordinated cases with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in joint local, state and federal investigations.

INVESTIGATOR, DETECTIVE DIVISION
Conducted follow-up investigations from preliminary reports taken in the field.
Coordinated and conducted interviews of witnesses and suspects.
Seized evidence and recovered stolen property.
Once probable cause was established, arrests were made, cases presented to the court, and testimony given as needed.
Maintained a high arrest and conviction rate.
Received several letters of commendation.

PATROL DEPUTY
Answered radio calls, took preliminary reports and assisted the general public in need of law enforcement intervention.
After only a short time in regular patrol, was transferred to a specialized squad, Sheriff's Alcohol Field Enforcement Unit, specializing in DWI and traffic enforcement.
Received multiple letters of appreciation from businesses, schools, and citizens regarding community safety and awareness.

AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER (04/80 TO 04/83)
Wrightsville Beach Police Department Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
I was sworn as an Auxiliary Police Officer under Chief George Antley's administration. This position assisted the department by supplementing the lack of manpower with special emphasis on the weekends. Duties were as follows:
Worked independently taking written reports and making arrests as needed.
Hired as head lifeguard- allowing a sworn Beach Patrol Officer to supervise lifeguards during the summer season.
Volunteered as a fireman for the town of Wrightsville Beach.
The rescue of a fallen fireman led to receipt of The Certificate of Merit by the town of Wrightsville Beach.

Law Enforcement Training

• QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS ATTENDED (AUGUST 1997)
American Institute of Applied Science Raleigh, North Carolina
• Combating the gang crisis in America Attended (September 1996)
The University of Vermont Charleston, South Carolina

• EFFECTIVELY SUPERVISING AND MANAGING Attended (December 1995) Problem Officers
Public Agency Training Council Wilmington, North Carolina
• HOSTAGE RESCUE COURSE ATTENDED (JUNE 1995)
Singleton International Fayetteville, North Carolina
• FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY 180TH SESSION ATTENDED (01/95-03/95)
FBI ACADEMY Quantico, Virginia

• PRACTICAL HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION ATTENDED (OCTOBER 1993)
Public Agency Training Council Wilmington, North Carolina
• MEDIA RELATIONS ATTENDED (AUGUST 1993)
Federal Bureau of Investigations Wilmington, North Carolina
• DIVISION of CRIMINAL INFORMATION ATTENDED (JULY 1991)
N.C. State Bureau of Investigation Wilmington, North Carolina
• HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENDED (JUNE 1991)
N.C. Crime Control and Public Safety Wilmington, North Carolina
• SUBMACHINE GUN INSTRUCTORS ATTENDED (NOVEMBER 1990)
DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL
National Rifle Association Quantico, Virginia
• ARMORER SCHOOL PROGRAM ATTENDED (JANUARY 1989)
Smith & Wesson Springfield, Massachusetts
• SPECIALIZED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR ATTENDED (JANUARY 1988)
N.C. Justice Academy Wilmington, North Carolina
• INTERVIEW AND INTERROGATION ATTENDED (OCTOBER 1988)
Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, North Carolina
• INSTRUCTORS TRAINING for LAW ENFORCEMENT ATTENDED (JUNE 1986)
N.C. Justice Academy Wilmington, North Carolina
• SEARCH AND SEIZURE ATTENDED (MAY 1986)
Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, North Carolina
• BASIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION ATTENDED (MAY 1984)
Central Missouri State University Wilmington, North Carolina
• URBAN ELEVATED OPERATIONS HOSTAGE ATTENDED (OCTOBER 1983)
NEGOTIATIONS
United States Army Fort Gordon, Georgia
• BASIC RECRUIT TRAINING ATTENDED (JANUARY 1982)
Cape Fear Technical Institute Wilmington, North Carolina
• VARIOUS DRUG ENFORCEMENT SCHOOLS
(various dates and locations)
• VARIOUS TACTICAL AND FIREARMS TRAINING
(various dates and locations)
• VARIOUS SPEED DETECTION/DWI SCHOOLS
(various dates and locations)

Professional Organizations:

FBI National Academy Associates
- Past President of the North Carolina Chapter

National Sheriff's Association
Law Enforcement Alliance of America
Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #58
New Hanover County Law Enforcement Officers Association- Served as Board Member
North Carolina Sheriff's Association
North Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association
New Hanover County Sheriff's Recreation and Benevolent Association
Served as Board Member and President
Crimestoppers of the Cape Fear Area
Coastal Horizons, Inc.; TASC

Awards

Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate 1998
N.C. Criminal Justice Education Training and Standards Commission
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year / Fraternal Order of Police 1996
Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate 1989
N.C. Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission
Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate 1988
General Law Enforcement Certificate 1986
The Certificate of Merit, Town of Wrightsville Beach 1981 for the retrieving a fallen firefighter from a burning building

Education
Graduated from the 180th Session of the FBI National Academy 1995
Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate 1989
Attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington 1978
Graduated from Cape Fear Academy 1976