Lieutenant Len Hatcher began his law enforcement career in March of 1987 with the Clayton Police Department. He worked uniformed patrol for a little more than one year before joining the Garner Police Department on August 31,1988. 

Len protected the Town of Garner as a uniformed officer until he was promoted to Investigator in March of 1991. He spent the next two years investigating robberies, burglaries and other violent crimes. However, Len specifically recalls spending many hours investigating child sexual assaults.

"I frequently found myself assigned to child abuse and sexual crimes involving minors. Robberies, burglaries and property crimes with adult victims tend to fade from memory much faster than children victims," said Hatcher.  

In 1993, Len competed for and was promoted to Lieutenant. He made a return trip back to uniformed patrol, but as a first line supervisor.

After working the road again for a few years, Len was transferred to the Department's Administrative Lieutenant position. He managed all state mandated and department sponsored training programs, personnel development strategies and Internal Affairs investigations. 

In May 2003, Lieutenant Hatcher was transferred back to Investigations, which is his current assignment. He supervises all agency detectives, the Youth Services Officer and Drug Investigator. Len remains the Department's Internal Affairs Commander and Accreditation Manager. 

In 2003, Len orchestrated what has now become the Department's Crisis Negotiator (CN) Team. He is the CN Team Commander and responsible for all Team logistics and training.  

Lieutenant Hatcher earned his BS Degree in Criminal Justice from Wesleyan College. He also graduated from NC State University's Administrative Officer Management Program (AOMP) - 13th Session. 

In 1991, Lieutenant Hatcher was named Officer of the Year by his peers.