Running Code

From growing up in The Philippines to careers in the Navy and then with NNPD, Sgt. Tommy Allen has exemplified professionalism. On this episode of the Running Code podcast, Sgt. Allen talks about the fulfillment he found in his detective roles, his newer responsibility as a patrol sergeant, and the importance of fitness and presentation.

Sergeant, soon-to-be Lieutenant, Richard Thweatt is our next guest on the Running Code podcast. While his assignments have varied over a career spanning nearly 30 years, some things have remained consistent for Sgt. Thweatt: his commitment to community and his desire to help mentor and train the younger officers in the department.

Det. Carl Neidengard is the guest in Episode 52 of the Running Code podcast. His adult life has been marked by several leaps of faith. Seventeen years ago, he moved across country to begin a law enforcement career with NNPD. Since then, he has moved to a homestand to raise a menagerie of goats, chickens and geese, in addition to taking on roles as a church deacon and Troopmaster with Trail Life US...

Officer Greymi Zapata, a 5-year veteran of NNPD, is the featured guest on the 51st episode of the Running Code podcast. The native of the Dominican Republic moved to Newport News at age 11 and became interested in a law enforcement career while attending college. Now, she faithfully serves Newport News’ South Precinct, often serves as a Spanish-speaking translator for the department while interact...

We reach a big milestone – the Running Code podcast airs its 50th episode. To commemorate this achievement, we had to bring on a special guest, and Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones was kind enough to join us. In this far-ranging discussion, Mayor Jones talks about his military service and its influence on his current role, the importance of public safety in city policy, the future of Newport News,...

School Resource Officer Keeyson Hughes is the guest on this week’s Running Code podcast. Officer Hughes has the distinction of not only serving the city of Newport News, but also serving his country as a reservist in the U.S. Army. After recently returning from deployment, he has resumed his role of working in the city’s schools.

Lt. Michael Sinclair’s career with NNPD has been a diverse one, not unlike many officers in the city. From stints in patrol and investigations, to heading up the NNPD Training Academy, Crisis Negotiations Team, to now overseeing the department’s Real Time Crime Center, Lt. Sinclair has had his hands in many fascinating areas of policing. In the latest Running Code podcast, Lt. Sinclair talks about...

Now in his 20th year with the department, Sgt. J.J. Thompson has held key roles in patrol and investigative units. He currently is a Sergeant over the Aggravated Assault Unit. In this episode, Sgt. Thompson talks about his route to joining NNPD, his favorite assignments, managing the stresses of the job, his family, and more.

When Adrienne Walker was working her job at a fitness center years ago, she held the belief that there weren’t many women in law enforcement. When she started encountering female deputies at the job, her perception started to change, and set the stage for her to find her calling. Now, approximately 20 years into her career in law enforcement, Walker is a sergeant in NNPD’s Community and Youth Outr...

Det. Sophat Nou wears many hats – from solving property crimes in North Precinct, to his work with NNPD’s Drone Unit, to educating the public on avoiding financial scams, Det. Nou has served the city with distinction for 19 years. Away from the office, he stays similarly busy – dedicated husband and father, ordained minister, avid cyclist and amateur guitarist. In the latest edition of the Running...

Sergeant Brett Cline has served with NNPD for 15 years following a lengthy stint in the U.S. Navy. Sgt. Cline talks about growing up in a family with six siblings, his time as a scholarship swimmer and love of surfing, and much more in this episode.

Episode 43 of Running Code features recent academy graduate Kelly Hernandez. Following a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy and several years as a 911 dispatcher, Hernandez took a leap of faith and joined NNPD last year. In this podcast, she discusses the transition from military to civilian life, what led her to become an officer, and her challenges in NNPD’s training academy.

Episode 42 of Running Code features Detective Maria Toch. A Northern Virginia native who majored in psychology at CNU, Det. Toch originally envisioned herself working in social work or private practice in the mental health field, but found the perfect combination of all of her interests at NNPD. She discusses her career path, her love of teaching, her many roles at NNPD and much more in this episo...

Lieutenant Thomas Peregrine didn’t have police work on his radar, but a visit by a former NNPD detective to Peregrine’s family-run nail salon started to set in motion a change of careers for the Hampton native. In this episode of Running Code, Lt. Peregrine talks about his unconventional career path, the camaraderie he’s formed at NNPD, and much more. ▶ Click here to view the latest Running Code:...

NNPD Detective Kylee McDonough is the featured guest on Episode 40 of Running Code. In this podcast, she discusses her quick rise from patrol to investigations, her Newport News roots, and her love of travel.

NNPD Special Victims Unit supervisor Sgt. Steven Stepp is the next featured guest on our podcast, Running Code. Sgt. Stepp, who grew up in Newport News, always had a service-minded career in mind, and has thrived in several fast-paced roles at NNPD – including High Impact Patrol, Tactical Operations Unit and investigator prior to his current assigned in SVU. He talks about his journey thus far, hi...

Officer Muhammad Powell from NNPD’s South Precinct is our next guest on Running Code. Officer Powell had an idea he wanted to be an officer when he was younger and became the only person in his immediate family not to join the military. Since, he has already taken on leadership role within his precinct and looks forward to continuing his family’s legacy of discipline and leadership.

Lieutenant Cornelius Webster, who currently oversees NNPD’s Training Academy, joins us for this edition of the Running Code podcast. This Newport News native talks about growing up in the city, his football playing and coaching background, and what he is doing now to help mold the future officers of NNPD.

Our next guest on Running Code is Captain Randy Cupp, a veteran of more than 20 years with NNPD. The long-time Newport News resident had the unique experience of growing up in the city, graduating from CNU and then getting to patrol and oversee many of the same neighborhoods he grew up in. Now, he oversees NNPD’s Special Investigations Division. He talks about his favorite assignments, his militar...

Officer Tyson sits down in the hot seat for this edition of Running Code. A Portsmouth native, Officer Tyson is a recent graduate of NNPD’s Training Academy and serves the South Precinct. In this week’s show, she talks about her lifelong dream of becoming a police officer and her future goals.

Episode 34 of Running Code features Lt. Jessica Collins, who has served with NNPD for 23 years. Lt. Collins discusses her previous stint as a 911 dispatcher, some of her favorite assignments, her shenanigans with Lt. Morgan, and more. Also, Capt. Tietjens talks about his recent retirement and future plans.

Central Precinct Officer Valerie Donski, a native of Uzbekistan who also lived in Russia, is our guest in Episode 33 of Running Code. She talks about how she made her way to the U.S., tried many job roles before finding her true calling, all the while being a mom and entrepreneur. We also learn that she has an eclectic taste in music!

Officer Asya Handy was set to follow in her father’s footsteps and join the military. When she decided against that, it seemed serving as a law enforcement contractor and firearms instructor in her home town of Philadelphia was her path. But wanting something more, Officer Handy took a leap of faith and followed a friend down to Virginia and applied to join NNPD. Now thriving as a South Precinct p...

Det. Alonza Sutton is always on the go, but this new detective in South Precinct stopped by long enough to join us for Episode 31 of Running Code. Det. Sutton talks about laterally transferring to NNPD one year ago, working on his doctorate, his role in the military, and his time with NNPD so far.

Master Police Officer Jeff Ferree wears many hats at NNPD – from patrolling midnight shift, to serving as a field training officer, to his work on the NNPD Marine Unit. He also spends much of his time mentoring youth in the city. The eight-year veteran of NNPD talks about all this and more in the 30th edition of our Running Code podcast.