Officer Profiles

River Bend Police Officer Profiles

Police Chief Sean Joll

Chief Joll is a Florida native, but considers North Carolina his home, having graduated from West Craven High School. He holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Appalachian State and also is an Eagle Scout. Chief Joll worked for the Rocky Mount Police Department from 2004-2007 and then joined the New Bern Police Department in 2007.  While at the New Bern Police Department, he served as a Field Training Officer, Police Bicycle Officer, Street Level Narcotics Detective and Special Response Team (SWAT) operator and patrol officer. In the summer of 2012, Chief Joll joined the River Bend Police Department.

He is instructor certified as a General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, and Tazer instructor.

He attended courses that cover:

  • Basic Homicide Investigator,
  • Police Law Institute
  • Radar and Intoxilyzer Operator and
  • Holds his Advanced Law Enforcement Certification.
  • Chiefs Award for Excellence
  • Department Meritorious Service Medal
  • Department Award for Excellence
  • Certificate of Commendation
  • Certificate of Merit
 

Police Sergeant Stephen Fell

Sergeant Stephen Fell Jr., is a New Jersey /New York native. After serving in the Army, he moved to Pollocksville and opened a NY Deli. He attended Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) in the evening and graduated from the Craven County BLET program.

In 1998, he began his law enforcement career in Maysville. In 2000, he transferred to the Jacksonville (NC) Police Department. There he received his Advanced Certificate and specialized in all aspects of Traffic Safety, Enforcement and Crash Investigation. He was promoted to Corporal and lead Crash Investigator while assigned to the Traffic Division.

Sergeant Fell attended many classes in Florida at IPTM and the NC Justice Academy. He is an expert in Crash Reconstruction and has completed At-Scene Crash, Advanced Crash, Motorcycle Crash, Commercial Vehicle Crash, NCSHP Motorcycle Operations, Drugs That Impair Driving, PBT, SFST, Field Training Officer, Drug Interdiction, Taser, Radar, and was assigned to the Weapons of Mass Destruction Team.

Sergeant Fell is providing the River Bend community and its travelers with the professionalism and respect they deserve by continuing to serve with the highest standards possible.

 

Officer Andrew Borner

Officer Borner is a native of New Bern and spent his childhood years growing up in the River Bend Community. He graduated from New Bern High School in 2011 where he then went and studied Criminal Justice at Craven Community College. Officer Borner served as the Sergeant for the Maysville Police Department before transitioning over to River Bend on July 29, 2022. During his time with the Maysville Police Department, Officer Borner completed various training to include: Community Oriented Policing, RADAR/LIDAR, SFST, ARIDE, and many more. Officer Borner also has experience with investigating narcotic, financial, and property crimes.

Officer Borner is excited to be back in the River Bend Community serving in a law enforcement role, and is looking forward to bringing his Community Policing prospective to the citizens of River Bend. 

 

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.  

 

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. 

 

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.

 

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.