Morganton Public Safety promotes Lt. Palmer and Sgt. Vue

Two Morganton Public Safety officers have stepped into new leadership roles, marking the next chapter in their careers with recent promotions.

Earlier this month, the department and fellow Morganton personnel and city council members gathered at CoMMA to congratulate Lt. Aaron Palmer and Sgt. Tou Vue. Joining them were their families and friends.

Chief Jason Whisnant recognized the two men and their time with Morganton Public Safety.

“Your promotions today are well deserved,” Whisnant said. “Your dedication to the agency and the city. Your hard work and consistently exceeding expectations have really, truly made a difference in what you do today and also in your future growth with the agency.

“We’re excited to see you take on new challenges within our city. As law enforcement and fire services are constantly evolving, you’re part of the new leadership team that will grow into that and meet those challenges.”

Lt. Palmer (Sergeant to Lieutenant)

Palmer graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) and joined the MPS department in 2009.

In a dual role, he served as a K-9 and field training officer for five years before being promoted to sergeant in 2016. From there, he served on patrol and criminal investigations division.

Palmer is also a recipient of the Advanced Law Enforcement certificate.

“Aaron is one of those personalities that just you can’t help but to like and respect. People willfully and joyfully follow you with all your leadership roles that you have with our agency,” Whisnant said.

His persuasive nature dates back to his beginning days when he first met Whisnant.

In 2008, young Sgt. Whisnant was getting a cup of coffee at the GATE gas station when Palmer walked in.

“This skinny, skinny-looking cowboy walks in with Wrangler jeans on and a hat and wants to know if we had any ‘cop jobs’ available,” Whisnant recalled. “‘Yes, sir, we sure do.’ He said, ‘Well, I’d like to have one of those.’ As it turns out, the rest is history.”

“I do want to thank the City,” Palmer said. “Foremost, I’m very appreciative of my job here. … Thank you to my family for every sacrifice that comes along with this. To my wife and children, you are forever changing as I grow in this agency and the sacrifices that you made. For the late nights staying up, the change in the blackout curtains in the bedrooms.”

Sgt. Vue (Public Safety Officer to Sergeant)

In July 2013, Vue joined the department after graduating from Western Carolina University’s criminal justice program. He became a field training officer in 2016.

“During his time at the agency, Vue has demonstrated a high level of commitment to his professional growth, having earned an intermediate law enforcement certification in 2015 and earning an Advanced Law Enforcement certification in 2022,” Whisnant said. “This is the highest recognition of law enforcement certification recognized by the state of North Carolina.”

Vue has trained many officers, which earned him two agency recognitions in 2023 and a “Field Training Officer of the Year” recognition in 2024. His peers selected him for the 2024 award.

“Back-to-back years, that is quite an accomplishment and goes to reflect your dedication to the program as well as your commitment that you put into each and every trainee that you have,” Whisnant said.

After taking his oath, Vue took the time to recognize his colleagues and his family.

“First of all, I’d like to thank Chief Whisnant, Chief Bowman, Chief Lander, and Chief Gibson, for this opportunity to step into this position. I would like to thank the City and the rest of the department staff for allowing this opportunity,” Vue said. “I’d like to thank my family, especially my wife and my children, for their support and all the struggles that they met through sacrifice that allowed me to be here today. I vow to do my best in this position.”