AHOSKIE – North Carolina Highway Patrol First Sergeant K.P. Pitts has an addition to his team.

As of last week, Sgt. R.G. Willis III has been assigned to Troop A District II.

“He’s a sharp guy,” First Sgt. Pitts said of Willis. “He’s very eager to be here and seems to be a hard worker. He’s willing to go the extra mile to see the job is done.”

Sgt. Willis came to the Roanoke-Chowan region after being assigned to Morehead City and Salisbury for the last 13 years. He spent seven years in Morehead City and six in Salisbury.

Before coming to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, he was a police officer with the Madison Police Department in Rockingham County.

The new sergeant, who was promoted to the office on July 9, said he was drawn to the N.C. Highway Patrol for multiple reasons.

“I have family that has been in the Highway Patrol previously,” he said. “I also valued their core values and professionalism and the integrity of the patrol.”

He said becoming a member of the NCHP was something he always wanted to do.

“I had numerous years under my belt and I was ready to go to the next level,” he said of the promotion.

Sgt. Willis said he was looking forward to working with the troopers in the district and was especially excited about meeting the people of the area.

According to Sgt. Willis, his main focus will be to continue the district’s work to reduce collisions in the three counties.

Married to Christy Willis, Sgt. Willis and his wife have five children.

He comes to the district to replace Sgt. K.D. Owens, who transferred to another district. He has been out of the district in a training program since May.

Being back at full administrative staff will help the local office, according to First Sgt. Pitts.

“It will improve the effectiveness of the office,” he said. “You’ll be able to see more supervision of the officers on the road. It will help all of us provide better supervision.”