Lt. Ryland Matthews, District 1 Commander

Lt. Matthews is a Macon, Mississippi, native who spent a number of years in the United States Marine Corps before joining Law Enforcement.

Prior to joining the New Bern Police Department, in March 1998, he was a reserve officer with the Bridgeton Police Department. He was assigned to Patrol Division, was later trained as a Patrol Evidence Technician and then worked as a DWI Enforcement Officer.

Matthews was selected to the Traffic Enforcement Unit in May 2000 and was certified as a Crash Reconstructionist by the Fall of 2003.  He received his Advance Law Enforcement Certificate as well as NC Justice Academy Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Certificate in 2004.  He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from Southern Illinois University.

Matthews was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in January 2007.