The Huntersville Police Department announced the following promotions:

Deputy Chief Michael Kee

Kee joined the Huntersville Police Department in 1998 as a detective sergeant over the Criminal Investigations Division. Two years later, he was promoted to the rank of Detective Lieutenant. He also started and led the first ever Crisis Negotiations Unit at the Huntersville Police Department and developed, implemented and commanded the department’s honor guard beginning in 2001. He also implemented the Rape Aggression Defense Training Program in the department.

As the department grew quickly, he was promoted to captain in 2001 and led the department’s Services Bureau until April, when he was reassigned as Patrol Bureau Commander upon the retirement of Captain Randy Pennington. Prior to working with the Huntersville Police Department, Kee began his career as a patrol officer and detective at the Concord Police Department.

He graduated from the 210th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia in September 2002.

He is a certified Criminal Justice Instructor in North Carolina and holds his advanced Criminal Investigations Certificate through the North Carolina Justice Academy.

Kee graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in history.

Capt. Barry Graham

Graham joined the Huntersville Police in 1997 and became the department’s first School Resource Officer. He was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division in 2001 and worked his way up through the ranks, at times heading the Service Division, until his promotion to captain.

Before joining the Huntersville department, Graham began his law enforcement career with the Biltmore Forest Police Department in 1994.

Graham has an associate degree in criminal justice from Central Piedmont Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western Carolina University.

Capt. Ken Richardson

Richardson joined the Huntersville Police Department in Sept. 1998 where he worked as a detective until 2001, receiving several promotions along the way.

Captain Richardson has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western Carolina University. He received his associate degree in liberal arts and criminal justice from Central Piedmont Community College in December 2002.

In February 2009, Captain Richardson was awarded the Supervisor of the Year award.

Lt. Bryan Latza

Latza joined the Huntersville Police Department in 2000. He was promoted to sergeant in 2009. He has served as a member of the Training Advisory Committee, as a police-training officer, S.W.A.T. Team Leader and, most recently, the department’s recruitment officer.

He began his law enforcement career in 1998 at the Amsterdam Police Department in Amsterdam, N.Y.

Latza graduated from Niagara University with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. He is currently working towards earning his master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University.