Another first occurred at Heritage Hospital, when Lt. Brandy Lee was sworn in as its first police officer Tuesday inside the Tarboro hospital.

The 28-year-old Martin County native was administered the oath of office by Edgecombe County Magistrate Phillip Brown, as several dozen hospital officials and onlookers filled a meeting room on the hospital's first floor.

Several local officials, including Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris, Tarboro Police Chief Robert Cherry, Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners Chairman Leonard Wiggins and Edgecombe County Sheriff James Knight attended Lee's ceremony Tuesday.

Morris said he felt that the police officer being added to Heritage's staff is "one step more in the right direction" for the hospital. He noted that Tarboro is also "fortunate to be associated with the hospital, (because it) brought a sense of pride to Tarboro.

"We see what you do in our community" from a health care, and volunteering, standpoint, Morris added, noting that he himself had been cared for at Heritage Hospital following a heart attack in December 2006.

Brown also praised University Health Systems, remarking "I call it 'the Duke of the East'" following care he received at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville following a heart attack in February 2003.

Cherry said of Lee and the hospital that his department and he "look forward to working with the police over here. It's just going to be better for you and for us."

Randy Walston, police chief for University Health Systems' force, told the large crowd that he did not think the hospital "could have chosen a better candidate" than Lee to be their officer at this time.

Heritage Hospital President Wick Baker noted that Lee was the "very first commissioning of an officer" the hospital has ever had, where before it relied on its security officers.

Walston commended Baker and the rest of the administration for their "willingness to take something that is good and (make) it better" by adding on the lieutenant.

Lee served for more than eight years as an officer for the Robersonville Police Department. She was officially hired by University Health Systems for her role on their police force on Sept. 8.