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3462a5b7-06fb-4d7a-b106-db95125022a4 < Back GOVERNOR STEIN APPOINTS ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF CHARLES BLACKWOOD CHAIR OF CRIME COMMISSION March 11, 2025 Hillsborough, NC (March 11, 2025) – This week, Governor Josh Stein appointed Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood as the chair of the 44-member Governor’s Crime Commission. The Commission’s mission is to improve the quality of life for North Carolinians, enhance public safety, and reduce and prevent crime by improving the criminal justice system. Blackwood began his career in 1980 as a uniform patrol deputy, and rose through the ranks, retiring in 2012. Elected in 2014, he became the 47th Sheriff of Orange County and is currently in his third term of office. In 2017, former governor Roy Cooper originally appointed Blackwood to the Governor’s Crime Commission. The Commission is a multi-disciplinary group that serves as the chief advisory body to the governor and to the secretary of the Department of Public Safety on crime and justice issues. Crime commission members also review grant applications from law enforcement agencies, governmental bodies, and non-profit agencies and make recommendations to the governor according to funding priorities established annually. Blackwood has extensive leadership experience, serving as the president of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association in 2022. In 2021, Governor Cooper appointed Sheriff Blackwood to the newly formed Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, and then-SBI Director Bob Schurmeier named Blackwood to the SBI Center for the Analysis of Police Use of Force in 2020. These experiences will inform his role as Commission Chair. Blackwood said, “It is indeed an honor to serve the state as the Chair of the Governor’s Crime Commission. In Orange County, my team works to create a safe community where everyone can move about freely as they live, work, raise their families, and age in place with dignity and support. I view this appointment as an opportunity to promote that vision for all North Carolinians.” For more information about the Governor’s Crime Commission, visit ncdps.gov/gcc. ### Previous Next 1/1

Adverse Weather information for Orange County NC, provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Adverse Weather Information ORANGE COUNTY, NC HOMEPAGE The homepage for Orange County Government in North Carolina. The County will list any major weather events impacting services here on the website. OC ALERTS OC Alerts is the public alert and warning system for Orange County. If you are an Orange County resident, sign up for OC Alerts to get important public safety messages! THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER The National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center webpage is maintained by NOAA to provide information on severe tropical weather. THE WEATHER CHANNEL A reliable source of information on both severe and daily weather information and forecasts. Severe Weather Preparedness Be Ready: Your 72-Hour Emergency Kit When major weather events hit, emergency services focus on critical infrastructure and life-threatening situations first. Every household should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Your emergency kit should include: Essential Supplies: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (12 gallons for a family of 4) Three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered radio Flashlights and extra batteries First aid supplies Manual can opener Important medications Backup power banks for devices Learn more about building your kit: https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit Family Emergency Plan Create and discuss your family's emergency strategy: Identify safe shelter locations Plan evacuation routes Choose emergency meeting points Establish communication methods Prepare for pet care needs Secure outdoor items Protect vehicles Visit https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan for detailed planning guides Stay Connected Sign up for OC Alerts at www.ReadyOrange.org Keep devices fully charged before storms Have backup power solutions ready Maintain battery-powered radios Follow official emergency channels Community Preparedness Check on elderly neighbors Share resources (generators, chainsaws, vehicles) Support those with special needs Consider donating extra supplies Join neighborhood preparedness groups Learn about neighborhood preparedness: http://www.orangecountync.gov/1684/Five-Steps-to-Neighborhood-Preparedness For comprehensive hurricane safety information: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes Remember: The time to prepare is before the storm. Don't wait until it's too late.

Submit a tip to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Submit A Tip ALWAYS CALL 911 TO REPORT A CRIME IN PROGRESS OR AN ACTIVE EMERGENCY! Use the form below to send additional information about situations we are investigating, to tell us about a trend requiring our attention, or to inform us about ongoing actions causing you concern. If you have concerns about a student enrolled in the Orange County School System or are worried about a safety issue within the schools, please contact the tip line: 1-844-5SAY NOW (1-844-572-9669) or submit the information in one of the ways outlined on the See Something, Say Something website by CLICKING HERE .

Request Orange County Sheriff's Office personel at your Special Event. Special Events You may request a deputy make an appearance at your event for community outreach purposes. Please complete the form below and a member of our staff will reach out to you regarding your request. Each request is approved or denied on a case-by-case basis and depending on staffing. If you need to request a paid Off-Duty Deputy for security or traffic purposes, CLICK HERE for the Off-Duty Deputy form.

Learn more about Detainee Mail at the Orange County Detention Center. Detainee Mail Sending Mail to Detainees: Write to your loved one at: [Resident's Name] Orange County Detention Center Facility ID Number 5150 PO Box 18247 Greensboro, NC 27419 All mail is scanned and delivered electronically to detainees. Books & Magazines: Want to send reading materials? Have them shipped directly from vendors like Amazon to: [Resident's Name] Orange County Detention Center 1200 US 70 West Hillsborough, NC 27278 ⚠️ Important: Unacceptable items cannot be returned and will be destroyed. Make sure to check what items are acceptable below: ACCEPTABLE ITEMS: - Letters (up to 10 pages) - Simple greeting cards - Photos and drawings - All items must be on standard paper (8.5x11in. or smaller) UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS: - Original/official documents - Money in any form - Cards with 3D, pop-up, or musical elements - Items with glitter, glue, or tape - Explicit or inappropriate content - Physical packages

9e72b690-5cf3-422d-b9b9-a57233dd729a < Back EMPLOYMENT TERMINATED September 22, 2025 Hillsborough, NC (September 22, 2025) - Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood terminated the employment of Detention Officer Brian Edwards this morning. Chief Deputy T. Sykes placed Edwards on administrative leave Saturday, September 20, 2025, when the Sheriff’s Office learned of concerning social media posts allegedly made by Edwards and opened an investigation. The investigation confirmed violations of both the Standards of Conduct and the Speech, Expression, and Social Networking sections of the policy manual. Sheriff Blackwood terminated Edwards’ employment accordingly. “We must maintain the public trust as we go about our mission to protect, serve, and treat everyone with dignity and respect,” said Blackwood. ### Previous Next 1/0

Courthouse Operations at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Courthouse Operations Our courthouse deputies, known as bailiffs, ensure a safe and orderly environment for everyone who enters the Orange County Courthouse, from citizens and jurors to judges and legal professionals. When You Visit the Courthouse When you enter the courthouse, bailiffs conduct security screenings to establish and maintain a secure environment. They're not just security officers; they're your first point of contact, ready to assist and direct you to your destination. These items are NOT allowed in the courthouse: Backpacks, purses, or bags of any kind Weapons of any kind including pocket knives or concealed carry pistols Pepper spray, Mace, or stun guns Also, cell phones MUST be turned off or placed in silent mode when you are in the courthouse, or they may be confiscated. Inside the Courtroom Bailiffs maintain the dignity and security of court proceedings by: Announcing the judge's entrance and maintaining courtroom order. Protecting all participants in the judicial process. Managing jury proceedings and ensuring their integrity. Coordinating secure detainee transport between the courthouse and detention center. Supporting judges, clerks, district attorneys, and public defenders. Major Tim Jones Major Tim Jones (pictured to the left) leads the Courthouse Operations Division. Contact him with any questions: Email: tijones@orangecountync.gov Phone: (919) 245-2956 Captain ray thompson Captain Ray Thompson manages the day-to-day Courthouse Operations. Contact him with any questions: Email: rthompson@orangecountync.gov Phone: (919) 245-2947

Provide information to the Josh's Hope database so the Orange County Sheriff's Office can better respond to calls involving individuals with special needs. Josh's Hope Do you have a loved one with special needs? Would it help if deputies knew about those needs when responding to an emergency at your residence? If so we can add an alert for service calls to your address. For example, if a person has autism and difficulty with loud noises or flashing lights, a deputy can approach your residence without lights and sirens and turn down his or her radio. Learn more below. Josh’s Hope and LifeTrack are databases used by the Sheriff's Office to share critical information with our deputies when responding to calls involving individuals with cognitive, mental health, or other intellectual disabilities. Thank you for taking the time to complete the form below for your loved one. If you have additional questions please contact: 1st Lieutenant Daniel Roberson: at troberson@orangecountync.gov or call: (919) 245-2921 Corporal Doug Moats at: dmoats@orangecountync.gov or call: (919) 245-2914

Submit a complaint to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Submit a Complaint The Orange County Sheriff's Office is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct. We value community feedback and take all concerns seriously. How to Submit a Complaint Choose the method most convenient for you: Submit the form below Visit our Main Office in person Call Captain Stephen Shaw: (919) 245-2916 Send us an email: websheriff@orangecountync.gov Our Promise We ensure: All complaints are thoroughly investigated. Your concerns will be heard without discouragement or intimidation. Every submission is handled professionally and fairly. Your feedback helps us improve our service to the community. Your input helps us maintain the professional standards you expect and deserve from your Sheriff's Office.

59c4b68f-089e-4682-9c55-0245b78a9bb4 #42, Election Reflections November 30, 2022 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Earlier this month, voters elected me to serve a third term as Sheriff of Orange County. I appreciate their renewed support. Next week, my staff and I take our oath of office for the following four years. We will continue working toward a future where everyone is secure and able to move freely about as they live, work, raise their families, and age in place with dignity and support. Looking back, I can see that our priorities at the beginning of the last term shaped our accomplishments. I can also see the impact of two events we did not anticipate: a global pandemic and the killing of George Floyd. COVID-19 impacted every aspect of life, and Floyd’s murder highlighted the pervasive nature of racism. Both altered our work. We created flexible and virtual ways to provide services, drastically reduced the population in our detention center, and examined our policies and practices in collaboration with the local NAACP chapters. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide responsive, accountable, and professional law enforcement in spite of difficult challenges. One of our priorities four years ago was to develop leadership for the future. Toward this end, we flipped the organizational chart. It now reflects my belief that those with the most public contact (those serving in the detention center, courts, crisis unit, community outreach division, on patrol, in the schools, as investigators, and at the front desk) are the most important faces of this agency, and they belong at the top. Therefore, my command staff and I are at the bottom, reminding us we support their efforts. We also grouped personnel into four divisions headed by majors, providing new leadership opportunities. Another goal was to implement a body-worn camera program. I am happy to report that despite concerns about cost, storage, battery life, and possible impact on morale, we established this program, and it vastly exceeded our expectations. The cameras preserve visual and audio details of interactions from the deputy’s point of view. There are many advantages. For example, investigators can see exactly what the responding deputy saw. The recordings help to assist supervisors when reviewing complaints, and our field trainers use them to gain insight into new employee performance. Four years ago, we promised to strengthen communications with the public, and we have made tremendous progress toward this goal. We hired a public information officer who writes press releases and serves as a liaison to members of the media. We also revamped our website; developed a phone app; started this monthly column; expanded our use of social media; produced multiple videos; created and organized an image library; and improved our crisis-communication efforts. One of my favorite initiatives has been the growth of our Citizens’ Academy and volunteer program. The Academy provides an in-depth look into our office, examining the roles, responsibilities, equipment, techniques, and facilities of each division. Through guest speakers, field trips, and experiential learning, we teach participants about the breadth of our services, and we explore the often complicated and nuanced ways our work intersects with other systems, agencies, and departments. Graduates qualify to become volunteers with our office, either in the Sheriff’s Office Community Organization or in the VISION (Volunteers in Service in Our Neighborhoods) program. With the help of the County Manager and the Board of Commissioners, we designed, built, and opened a modern detention facility to replace our 97-year-old jail. The 48,900-square-foot facility is less crowded and has improved safety and security systems. It also features a properly equipped kitchen, better medical facilities, nicer visitation areas, and a breakroom for employees. Two workrooms within the secure part of the facility allow those confined in the facility to receive education and specialized programming to help them eventually make a successful transition back into the community. I also want to highlight an innovative outreach tool we debuted mid-term. I commissioned a public opinion poll to solicit insight about the priorities and interests of a cross-sectional sampling of Orange County. This poll identified voters’ desires, helped me make decisions regarding service priorities, and provided data to support those choices. Nothing in the poll, however, affects how we respond to violent crime and carry out our constitutionally prescribed duties. This exercise was so valuable that we intend to repeat the poll during the upcoming term to ensure our delivery of discretionary services remains aligned with the interests of those we serve. I am excited for my third term. Thank you again for your support! Previous Next

bf631d0f-04fb-4829-82ef-5f7c7dc59f37 #80, Most Important Issue January 28, 2026 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood First responders must react to what occurs, which can often feel like a game of “Whack-a-Mole,” where a player uses a padded mallet to bop motorized pests on the head when they pop up. If you’ve ever played, you know additional moles continue to spring out ─ often players face several at the same time. People frequently ask me to identify the most important issues in law enforcement today. In many ways, that’s like asking me to name the biggest moles rather than focus on preparing deputies and detention officers to successfully serve the community regardless of what problems surface. Using my “Whack-a-Mole” analogy, I certainly understand that we need to react and respond to the critters that surface most frequently. But as a leader, I know that difficulties of the moment are not necessarily the most important. Building and maintaining a team that anticipates and adapts to change is the most important issue in law enforcement today. It is also my most important duty. It is critical that I recruit, train, equip, support, and retain people who can protect and serve no matter what pops up. Despite its status as a profession rich in history and tradition, a law enforcement officer does not operate in a static world. Even people who entered the field less than a decade ago find themselves working in a very different environment today. This reality certainly keeps me engaged, even after 45 years. No two days are the same, much less the years. At our office, we have what we call “The Standard.” It is not a policy document, but rather a mindset. Although “standard” can mean garden-variety or average, we mean something quite different. Our standard is not mediocrity, but rather excellence, and we aspire to it every day. We anticipate change and, as creative-thinking, resilient problem-solvers, we adapt to emerging societal issues, law changes, and technology improvements. In this way, we uphold our standard and build our culture regardless of the challenges we face. I want to share three examples, starting with the growing mental health crisis. I am not just aware of the conversations occurring at the local, state, and federal levels; I participate in them, working with stakeholders, our Criminal Justice Resource Department, and my colleagues on the Governor’s Crime Commission. But deputies and detention officers experience the ramifications of this crisis daily and must adapt and increase their skills now. They do not have the luxury of such discussions, nor can they wait for mental health system reform, the completion of a new crisis facility, or the funding of a grant proposal. It is imperative that I provide them training and tools such as verbal judo classes, crisis intervention skills, mental health first aid, and similar courses. We see people’s daily struggles, witness the impact on loved ones, and respond to suicides and overdoses. Accordingly, I also continually monitor employee wellness and provide appropriate resources. COVID-19 certainly brought with it many societal changes. The pandemic taught a master class in the importance of leveraging technology and modernizing long-standing policy. For example, even though video and audio equipment made virtual court appearances possible years before 2020, it took the crisis to accelerate the legal and cultural changes necessary to regularize this efficient practice. Therefore, throughout our agency, we examined where else this lesson might apply. Now, we now primarily use video visitation at the detention center. Loved ones find it more convenient and detention officers have more time to attend to other critical duties. By embracing and adapting, we improved. My final example shows that I do not only expect staff members to adapt to change ─ I also challenge myself to stay flexible. Although I still personally find it difficult to sport facial hair while wearing my dress uniform, I changed our policy when I saw clear evidence that deputies and detention officers with well-groomed beards, moustaches, or sideburns could be both professional and approachable. Likewise, I saw the merit in allowing visible tattoos. As society’s views toward body ink shifted, I recognized that by forbidding tattoos, we were causing exceptional applicants to apply elsewhere. A tattoo has no bearing on a person’s ability to perform his or her duties at the highest level; therefore, I changed my stance. Referring again to “The Standard,” we must continually adapt, change, and grow. Remaining nimble is our superpower, because maintaining the ability to provide for public safety, regardless of issue, problem, or emergency, will always be the most important issue in law enforcement. Previous Next

17939d96-3f0b-4608-baf8-299b4f0daa8b #6, Cost of Cruiser and Gear December 4, 2019 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Last month, I shared with readers the cost of a deputy’s uniform and personal equipment. This month, I provide the financial lowdown of the cost of a patrol vehicle and related equipment. A patrol deputy responds to emergencies, prevents crime, enforces the law, and provides support services throughout the 401-square miles of Orange County. We use Dodge Chargers, equipped with a patrol package, which includes a Hemi engine, a heavy duty suspension, performance brakes, and specialized seats to accommodate duty belts. The vehicle’s base price is $30,000. I am proud of the look of our fleet. We began phasing out our brown patrol cars in 2014, slowly replacing them with white Chargers. I subscribe to a forward moving philosophy; therefore I incorporate a star that appears to be moving forward into our new logo. I call it a dynamic star, and I like its clean, professional appearance. The graphics package, including installation, is $1612.50 per car. A siren alerts motorists when a deputy is responding to an emergency, and a speaker projects the deputy’s voice when necessary. The siren, speaker, microphone holder, and mounting bracket cost $1331.25. A cruiser also has front, side, and rear emergency lights for visibility and safety, and spot and alley lights for security sweeps and scene illumination. This lighting equipment, including the hardware, cables, power inverters, and cost of installation, adds $3810.95 to the tally. The patrol car is a mobile office. In it, a deputy receives and transmits information, writes reports, prints citations, enters information into statewide databases, makes phone calls, investigates incidents, and stays up-to-date on agency policy. The workhorses for these tasks are the in-car radio system ($6000), and a laptop computer ($2000) with a mouse ($30) and printer ($311.52). The computer must be securely mounted in the car ($379) and the accompanying equipment is either housed within or mounted to a specially designed console box ($693.49), which doubles as an arm rest and cup holder. Patrol cars have a camera mounted on the dashboard which activates automatically when a deputy turns on the lights and siren; it also records a short amount of pre-event data. The dash camera’s primary purpose is to record traffic stops, both for accountability and investigative purposes. A car also has a rear facing camera, used to capture activity and speech in the backseat when a deputy transports someone. The vehicle is modified for such purposes with the installation of a compartment ($838.49) designed to keep people safe and secure during transport. The advantages of the in-car cameras go beyond visual documentation. The metadata they collect – data about data – are also crucial. The data include the date, time, speed, and GPS coordinates of the car. This is helpful, for example, if a deputy needs to go back and search for weapons or evidence a suspect may have thrown from his or her car during a chase. The cameras run about $4000 for the pair. Cars are also equipped with a $55 Geotab, a fleet management device that constantly collects information about the car, including whether it is on or off, its location, and how fast it is travelling. Three kits (fingerprint, first aid, and evidence collection) are in every car. Each is also stocked with a flotation device, gas mask, fire extinguisher, and a disposable biohazard suit. Combined, these tools cost $555. Although not every car has a radar unit, the percentage is significant enough that I include the $2500 cost in the price of our hypothetical car, now totaling $54,117.20. There are three other pieces of equipment I want to mention, even though not all cars have them. Lidar is an instrument that uses laser technology to measure the speed of a motorist. Lidar is handheld, especially useful on crowded roadways, and costs $3000. The second specialty device is an automated external defibrillator (AED). Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the biggest killers out there; we therefore need AEDs to effectively protect and serve our community. Eventually, I want an AED in every patrol car, but at $1,500 each, it will take some time to reach that goal. The third piece of equipment is a $750 rifle, which requires a $67.67 trunk mount. So, here is the lowdown: most cars cost $54,117.20 and some cost $59,434.87. I hope this accounting increases your understanding of the complexity and variety of deputies’ duties, and provides you an appreciation for the amount of equipment used in the performance of their professional responsibilities. Previous Next