Support in a high-risk arrest last month on Monroe Street has earned the Roanoke Rapids Police Department a citation from the U.S. Marshals Service.

Vernon Jenkins was a high-ranking members of the Jersey City Bloods who holed up in Roanoke Rapids with a female associate who was living here, said Bryan Konig, a deputy marshal who requested assistance from the police department for a May 16 search.

Jenkins, who has also been charged in a January gang-related murder in Jersey City, was wanted in Hudson County for failing to appear on pending narcotics charges as well as heroin distribution, Konig noted in a memo to Scott J. Parker, who oversees the Violent Fugitive Task Force in the district that includes Roanoke Rapids.

Konig contacted Roanoke Rapids and spoke with Lieutenant Andy Bryant, requesting uniformed assistance. “Upon our arrival, Lt. Bryant had assembled the entire RRPD SRT team, a K-9 handler and several uniformed officers to assist. As a result of this overwhelming manpower, we were able to lock down all of the houses around our target address, including a well-known ‘problem’ residence next door,” Konig said in the email to Parker.

The certificate of appreciation.

Jenkins was located and taken into custody without incident. Upon his return he was charged with homicide. “RRPD’s support made all the difference in getting this done quickly and safely,” the memo said.

Konig said this morning that all the marshals needed were a couple of uniformed officers that the public was familiar with. Instead, the police department dispatched its special response team, a canine officer and uniformed officers. “The department is fantastic,” he said. “It was an amazing display of support. They helped us lock things down. They are very-well trained and well-disciplined.”

The police department, Parker said, “Really pulled out the red carpet for us and showed us professionalism in their assistance.”

Police Chief Tommy Hathaway said he was honored by the certificate the marshals gave to the department. “I’m honored for the police department and honored for the hard work the SRT team does to prepare. They train many hours to be prepared for incidents like this that may last only several minutes.”