My Turn: More than an endorsement

Getting your

On the night of July 12, 2018, Daniel Lancaster faced a situation that would leave a lasting impression on his law enforcement career. An armed robbery at the Harris Teeter on West Jake Alexander Boulevard in Salisbury had escalated into a hostage situation. Four employees and the spouse of an employee were being held inside the grocery store as officers worked to negotiate a peaceful surrender. Lancaster, then a sergeant with the Salisbury Police Department and a member of its Special Response Team, was among the officers responding that night. As negotiations continued, the suspect pointed a handgun at one of the hostages. Lancaster fired a single shot, striking the suspect and ending the immediate threat. All five hostages were evacuated safely, with no injuries to the hostages or responding officers.

The incident drew significant attention throughout Rowan County and highlighted the difficult, split-second decisions officers sometimes face in the line of duty. Eight years later, Lancaster has received an endorsement that holds particular personal significance. The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association’s Southern Piedmont...