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Commissioners, law officers honor Bryant as a 'cop's cop'

Commander Benjamin 'Bengy' Bryant poses with his family and fellow law officers.

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 19, 2020

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners, other law officers and his family honored Sheriff’s Commander Benjamin “Bengy” Bryant for 28 years of service recently, praising him as a “cop’s cop” with broad experience.

Starting as a 911 dispatcher on July 16, 1990, under Sheriff Ab Jackson, Bryant went on to work on the warrant squad, as a courthouse security deputy and as a SWAT team commander. He was promoted to sergeant over civil process in 2005 and lieutenant over civil process and warrants in 2009. His last assignment prior to his district commander appointment was captain of the support services division, working with the Board of Commissioners and county administration on budgeting and other administrative tasks. He retired on Nov. 22.
“I thank God for watching over me,” Bryant said during a Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 6. “In the time I’ve been in law enforcement 4,992 officers have died, 152 of them in North Carolina and I was one of the fortunate ones. So it’s only matter of grace made it to where I am today.”

Over his career with the agency, he served on the warrant squad, as a courthouse security deputy and as a SWAT team member and SWAT team commander. He was promoted to sergeant over civil process in 2005 and lieutenant over civil process and warrants in 2009. His last assignment prior to the district captain appointment last March was captain of the support services division.

A graduate of the Administrative Officer’s Management Certificate Program at North Carolina State University, Bryant also completed the Leadership Certificate Program through Blue Ridge Community College. He is married with three children.
“Family in law enforcement is your biggest support group,” he said. “Without them I couldn’t have done what I’ve done.” Addressing his wife and children, he said, “I appreciate your understanding why I couldn’t be at certain events or had to walk away from the dinner table.”
He thanks “to Albert, George, Eddie, Rick, Charlie and Lowell,” sheriffs Jackson, Erwin, Watkins, Davis, McDonald and Griffin he’s worked under. He thanked his brothers and sisters in law enforcement and the first responders he worked alongside him. “I couldn’t have done it without all these people supporting me, whether it was in training or calls for service. They all helped me in some way get to where I am today. We have an outstanding community in Henderson County. I love this place. Without their support we couldn’t be as successful as we are today.”
He didn’t say what he’s going to do in retirement but mentioned one thing he was required to do.
“I think somebody contacted the clerk of court because within a week of retirement I received a notice that I have to report for jury duty next week,” he said.

Commissioners adopted a resolution honoring Bryant and directing Sheriff Griffin to transfer his badge and sidearm to the retired captain.
“You guys know how special he is,” Commissioner Michael Edney, a lawyer, said to Bryant’s family members. “I’ve seen a lot of officers come and go but very very few of them are a cop’s cop who has the total respect of everybody they work with. Your daddy Bengy is one of them.”