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e2f28924-3ccb-4052-8a8a-e9bd92f80181 < Back DEPUTIES INVESTIGATING MAN’S DEATH September 19, 2025 Hillsborough, NC (September 19, 2025) - Investigators from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the death of a man located at the edge of a parking lot at the Brumley North Nature Preserve just before 7:30 am today. The deceased is Calvin Demond Smith-Taylor, 36, of Durham. Medical examiners are working to determine the time and cause of his death. Loved ones reported Mr. Smith-Taylor missing to the Durham Police Department yesterday. Please call Investigator E. Campbell at (919) 245-2907 with any information related to Mr. Smith-Taylor’s death. ### Previous Next 1/0

37cfb8e9-e294-496c-b2d0-fd4bc6ea7119 #17, Good Samaritans October 28, 2020 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood These are difficult times. We are in a global pandemic, a time of social unrest, and in the middle of a contentious election season. Social media is an amazing vehicle for sharing information and connecting with others, but it has its downsides. People often post in anger or haste, and others read the posts and make assumptions or judgement without applying the most charitable interpretation to those posts. A person with a different opinion or favored political candidate is often viewed as a mortal enemy instead of just as a person with a different opinion or favored political candidate. I feel it is important to take a moment to recognize that social media can easily color a person’s perspective in a way that is not necessarily accurate. During a time when so many find themselves divided, it is important to remember we have people in our community who care about others, who have a heart, and who are willing to put others before themselves. There are those among us who realize we are more alike than we are different and understand that any one of us can make a positive contribution. In my more than 40 years of law enforcement experience, I have been on some pretty intense calls. From pulling a badly burned victim from an oil fire at a stone quarry, to preventing family members from reentering a mangled vehicle as they tried to retrieve a deceased family member, to holding the hand of the wife of a high school classmate as I told her that her husband had passed – this job is often not pleasant. But I have not done this job alone, and I am not only speaking about the assistance of the men and women who also serve in law enforcement or other branches of emergency services. I’ve done it with the assistance of countless unsung heroes, many of whom had no training and wore no badge. I’m speaking about the many unnamed people who made the decision to step forward and help someone in an emergency situation because they felt it was the right thing to do. Over the past several weeks, several members of my staff have shared “Good Samaritans” encounters with me. In one instance, there was a rollover accident on the interstate, and the car was on fire. My deputy told me when he arrived at the scene, there were half a dozen people actively trying to rescue and render aid to the occupants of the vehicle. These witnesses weren’t standing back looking or recording video - they actively placed themselves in danger to assist a person who needed help. Another deputy told me about arriving at a chest pains call to find a total stranger providing CPR. In both cases, the deputy seemed to have some degree of surprise that “regular people” were willing to get involved on behalf of someone they did not know. I want to recognize such efforts. These people stepped forward to do the work, rather than just driving by only to go home and complain on social media about being stuck in traffic. My deputies and I deeply appreciate the people who are willing to assist us with emergency situations; even though amidst the chaos of a crisis we might not get the chance to express our thanks. We want people to know it matters. Not only is it essential to the resolution of the emergency, it also boosts our morale to work alongside community members – no matter how briefly. It is hard to quantify the value of the “we are all in this together feeling” it gives us. We have also had that feeling many times over the last several months as individuals and groups within our community wrapped their collective arms around us and made us feel like we matter and that our service is valued. People have approached us on the street to say thank you. Businesses and individuals have sent lunch to the office. We’ve received phone calls, cards, and positive Facebook messages. This support has extended to the entire system of emergency services, including police, fire, EMS, telecommunicators, and those serving in medical facilities. Thank you for letting me use this edition of The Lowdown to express my thanks to the many brave, kind, and generous souls in our community. You help us remember that we are nowhere near as divided as one might think by reading social media. We are connected and responsible for each other, and we appreciate your help. Previous Next

96a34295-5d59-48fb-8208-d3b756e3b184 #14, COP and Jones July 29, 2020 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Law enforcement agencies operate on federal, state, and local levels of government. They also operate in specialty areas, as is the case with park rangers; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents; and officers with the Transportation Security Administration. All are important, but the law enforcement officials most people see in their day-to-day lives are deputy sheriffs and police officers. I am frequently asked to explain the difference. Both prevent crime; enforce traffic laws; serve warrants; investigate and solve crimes; provide safety and crowd management at large events; and assist other emergency agencies such as fire and rescue departments. A sheriff has additional duties, including the operation of the county detention center; the protection of the courthouses and the people involved with the proceedings therein, the issuing of pistol purchase and concealed carry permits; and the service of civil processes. As the sheriff, I am elected to my office and I have jurisdiction throughout the county. In contrast, a police chief is hired by a city or town manager or elected board and his or her jurisdiction is effectively the area within the municipal boundaries. As a matter of practice, unless I am asked to assist a municipal agency, I confine my traditional law enforcement activities to the unincorporated areas of the county while performing my additional duties throughout. In this edition of The Lowdown, I want to talk about Community Oriented Policing, although for obvious reasons, I wish it were called Community Oriented Law Enforcement – it would be much more inclusive that way! This method of service delivery focuses on reducing crime and disorder by building relationships, increasing trust, creating partnerships, and working with a community to solve problems. Since I took office in 2014, my deputies and I have been working to serve in a manner consistent with this philosophy. I often quote Sir Robert Peel who established the first modern police force in London in 1829; it became the model for other countries as they developed their own law enforcement agencies. All “Peelian” principles reflect the idea that officers assume their duties with the implicit consent of those they police. My favorite principle includes the line, “The police are the public and the public are the police.” Peel notes officers are the only members of the public who give full-time attention to “duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.” To me, this is the heart of Community Oriented Law Enforcement – deputies dedicating themselves professionally to the responsibilities we all share. I want to give you a recent example. This June, off-duty Sergeant D.R. Jones heard a boom in the early hours of the morning and left his home to investigate, wearing gym shorts and a T-shirt. He wondered if a neighbor with substance abuse struggles and a recent DWI may have been involved in an accident on a nearby curve in the road. Instead, he discovered a garage fully engulfed in flames. He called for fire units and parked his car out of the path the drivers would need to approach the scene. Knowing an elderly woman lived in the house next to the garage, he attempted to rouse her, repeatedly shouting “Sheriff’s Office.” His shouts did not bring the woman to the door. He broke a window, entered the house, found the woman, and escorted her out. A car parked just outside the home was on fire, and the fire was spreading toward the house and other vehicles. He asked the woman whether her husband was in the home; she said she wasn’t sure. Jones placed her in his car and reentered the home. Once back inside; he remembered hearing the man died recently and realized the woman was disoriented by the stress of the situation. Jones returned outside, helped direct incoming fire units, and then waited with the woman until a family member arrived. This one incident provides powerful testimony to the value of law enforcement officers living in the communities they are sworn to protect. For Jones, his efforts were both personal and professional. He went out to check the safety of his own community and he managed the dangerous situation he found using his professional training. On that night, Jones was both the police and the public, and he saved a life wearing gym shorts. “The police are the public.” In other words, I am one of you. “The public are the police.” You are part of us. There are community welfare duties incumbent on everyone. Please do your part – contact me. Tell me what you expect from YOUR sheriff’s office. It is my honor to work with you to build trust, create partnerships, and solve problems in our community. Previous Next

School Resources offered by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. School Resource Officers Our School Resources Officers protect and enhance positive learning environments. Since 1993, our School Resource Officers (SROs) have been important members of the Orange County Schools community. These specially trained deputies serve in every school across the Orange County School System, fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and students in our community. Our SROs serve as: Trusted mentors and counselors School safety and security Educational resources D.A.R.E. program instructors Community liaisons Where You'll Find Us We maintain a presence in: 7 elementary schools: (Central Elementary , Efland-Cheeks Global Elementary , Grady A. Brown Elementary , Hillsborough Elementary , New Hope Elementary , Pathways Elementary , and River Park Elementary ) 3 middle schools: (A. L. Stanback Middle , Gravelly Hill Middle , and Orange Middle ) 2 high schools: (Cedar Ridge High and Orange High ) 1 charter school: (Eno River Academy ) 1 public school of choice: (Partnership Academy ) More Than Security Our SROs are carefully selected and specially trained law enforcement officers who do more than protect; they connect. Through classroom engagement, counseling, and community outreach, these deputies help create an environment where students can focus on learning and growing. Resources for Parents & Students Parent & Student Resources MENTAL HEALTH Mental Health resources for students of all ages: Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Freedom House Recovery Center Behavioral Health Clinic at Lincoln Carolina Outreach UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING The See Something, Say Something Anonymous Reporting System allows you to submit secure, anonymous safety concerns to get help for someone who may hurt themselves or others in our schools. RUNAWAYS If your child runs away from home: Contact law enforcement immediately to file a report. Think about where they may have gone and why they decided to run. Contact friends, family, the school, and neighbors to see if anyone has heard from the youth recently. CYBER SAFETY Online child sexual exploitation and abuse is a crime targeting the most vulnerable people in our community - our kids. It includes a broad range of criminal acts involving exploiting minors for sexual gratification or other personal or financial gain. Major Josh wood Major Josh Wood (pictured to the left) leads the School Resources Division. Contact him with any questions: Email: jwood@orangecountync.gov Phone: (919) 245-2927 Captain andrÉ richmond arichmond@orangecountync.gov

e62edb20-57fa-4b27-b8e3-173d0476d32d #65, New Phone App October 30, 2024 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Recently, we launched a new custom smartphone application to enhance the connection between our office and Orange County residents and visitors. Our goal is to make it easier for users to learn about our work, request various services, and communicate with our staff. TheSheriffApp.com, a brand of OCV, LLC., specializes in mobile app development for sheriffs’ offices and public safety organizations across the country. They worked with our communications staff to develop an app that provides quick access to items of public interest and is simple to use. In just a few clicks, users can find answers to frequently asked questions, learn about fingerprinting, express interest in employment, apply for many of the services we offer, submit a tip, commend or complain about an employee, learn about detention center policies, access our social media posts, and read our press releases. According to OCV Partner and CRO Kevin Cummings, “Over 80 percent of people in the United States own and use smartphones as their primary means of communication. Mobile apps offer agencies a better way to alert, inform, and prepare the public. Apps allow public safety agencies the ability to reach and serve their citizens where they are: their smartphones.” A notification bar sits at the top of the home page. This tool helps us push important information straight to subscribers’ mobile devices. In addition to automatic alerts from the National Weather Service, users receive our press releases, crime news, and traffic alerts. We believe community members will benefit from receiving important news in a timely manner directly on their phones, and when relevant, we will pair the written content with photos of, for example, road hazards and traffic conditions. The app also contains convenient, direct links to our social media pages. The first two feature buttons in the app, the FAQ section and the Submit a Tip option, sit right under the notification bar. This placement is deliberate. We want users to find answers to common inquiries and efficiently report information about crime, traffic, illegal activity, or share concerns about the safety of our students and schools. Many of the feature buttons on our old app merely directed users to the relevant section of our web page. Unfortunately, that page, currently undergoing revision, became rather text heavy over the years. Often a person would end up viewing a PDF, which can be cumbersome to navigate on a small screen. We wanted user-friendly content on our new app; most of it is native to the program and does not require routing people to the web to find what they need. We hope navigating the app is intuitive, with information organized into clear, concise, and understandable chunks. We also want people to locate information where they expect it might be, not only where we think it fits best. For example, although the app has a designated fingerprinting section on the home screen, we also included information about that service in the FAQ section. Likewise, our detention center is still a relatively new facility. Information about its location is included within the Detention feature button, the Sheriff’s Welcome section, and in the FAQ area. We are particularly pleased with the Property Catalog, as we know most people struggle to stay organized and keep up with purchase dates, serial numbers, and the value of their possessions. But when people call us about lost or stolen property, we need that information to increase the likelihood of recovery. With the click of a button and a few keystrokes, app users can input the name and relevant details about their valuables into a private catalog and add photos to the file. In the event of a stolen vehicle, the user can share the VIN and license plate numbers, an image, and any other relevant info with the responding deputy without delay instead of searching for the records at home or calling the Department of Motor Vehicles. This tool is also great for storing serial numbers of televisions, chain saws, computers, etc. The free app is now available for download from the App Store and Google Play by searching for “Orange County Sheriff, NC” or by clicking here . Be sure you include NC in your search; many other states also have Orange Counties. Or better yet, point your phone’s camera at the QR code below for a direct download. Please explore the app and help us improve it by providing feedback. Contact Alicia Stemper, our communications manager, with your suggestions at (919) 245-2963 or email her at astemper@orangecountync.gov . Previous Next

The Special Victims Unit at the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Special Victims & Crisis Unit Since 1993, our Special Victims & Crisis Unit has provided support to crime victims throughout Orange County. We understand navigating the aftermath of a crime is overwhelming. Our dedicated team works to ensure no victim faces this journey alone. Our Approach We provide personalized support by: Serving warrants for related crimes. Assisting victims with Domestic Violence Protective Orders. Connecting survivors with essential resources. Guiding victims through the criminal justice process. Coordinating with community support agencies. Providing confidential crisis intervention, advocacy, and support. Our unit works closely with community organizations to create a network of support for crime victims. Whether you need immediate assistance or ongoing support, we're here to help. Call (919) 245-2900 . Click Here for Crisis Unit Information & Services major nate fearrington Major Nate Fearrington (pictured to the left) leads the Special Victims & Crisis Unit. Contact him with any questions: Email: nfearrington@orangecountync.gov Phone: (919) 245-2919 lieutenant Brian sykes Lieutenant Brian Sykes manages day-to-day Special Victims & Crisis Unit Services. Contact him with any questions: Email: bsykes@orangecountync.gov Phone: (919) 245-2948

b2c83474-3c94-4f8a-b26c-b59284bb751f #9, Programs for Seniors March 25, 2020 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Since January 2019, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has assisted in the search for eight people with dementia who became lost. In six cases, we located the people unharmed; in two cases, the individuals died before being located. In this edition of The Lowdown, I want to describe the many programs in place to support seniors and reduce tragedies like these. Helping members of our senior community age in place with dignity and support is central to our agency’s vision statement. It is unlikely these programs would have helped one of the deceased individuals. He was a short-term visitor from out of state and therefore not enrolled in any of our initiatives. But had the other individual been enrolled, she might still be alive. She lived alone, and by the time anyone realized she was missing, she had wandered from home, fell into a creek, and died from exposure. Wellness checks are the simplest service we offer. Anyone with concern about an Orange County resident should call 911. [If they are calling from another county or from out of state, the number is (919) 732-5063.] A deputy will be dispatched to check on the person. If they are unable to locate the person or discover any sort of emergency, appropriate next steps will be initiated. We have three other programs to address situations with known, ongoing needs. Our Lifetrack program is a rapid response program provided free of charge to people in danger of wandering or becoming lost such as seniors or younger people with certain conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Enrolled residents wear a bracelet containing a battery operated transmitter. If a person wanders or is otherwise lost, the caregiver calls 911. Search and rescue personnel then use a mobile receiver to pick up the signal from the missing person’s transmitter. About 40 residents are enrolled in the program. We are able to provide this equipment free of charge through the generosity of groups like the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, the Sheriff’s Office Citizen Organization, and other community partners. Call Sergeant Roberson at (919) 245-2921 to learn more. Josh’s Hope is an informal database we maintain. People can opt in, letting deputies know critical information about a loved one with cognitive issues or mental health concerns. Essentially, the program provides deputies responding to a call with advanced knowledge that might increase how quickly the situation can be resolved. This minimizes stress for all involved. Our third program is Seniors and Law Enforcement Together. Also known as SALT, this program is a partnership with the Department on Aging’s Project Engage program. When a referral is made about a vulnerable senior in the community, the Department on Aging asks our Community Services Division to do a needs and safety assessment of the person and his or her residence as one part of the intake process. If the person qualifies for the program, a volunteer will regularly visit and provide quarterly updates to the Department on Aging. These visits lessen social isolation and monitor the person’s changing needs. This program makes between 100 and 125 contacts with Orange County seniors each month. There are two other county programs I want the community to know about. One is the new Community Paramedics Program. When an ambulance is dispatched to a medical call and the emergency medical technician recognizes the call involves either a person without a support system or a person with increasingly complex medical needs, he or she makes a referral to this program. Phone calls and regular home visits help keep problems from escalating and address new needs as they emerge. The community paramedics might also establish a premise alert in the dispatch system. This alert automatically notifies responding units about any special concerns at that residence. Call Kim Woodward (919) 245-6133 for more information. Finally, I want to tell you about the Telephone Reassurance program, a free service from the Department on Aging. Trained volunteers make morning safety-check phone calls to seniors Monday through Friday. If calls remain unanswered after three attempts, volunteers notify staff to take further action. To learn more, contact Bobby Cobb at (919) 245-4241. Let’s keep our seniors safe and reduce avoidable tragedies. Please consider if one or more of these programs might benefit someone you care about. As always, call us if we can help. Previous Next

bb62531e-d12f-41af-90f3-df20f0d81b03 #27, BLET and BDOT August 25, 2021 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Last month, I wrote about the benefits and difficulties of a public safety career. My life’s work is in a valuable profession, one with job-security and the incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. In this month’s edition of The Lowdown, I am going to address the initial training necessary to begin such a career. As sheriff, I am responsible for enforcing laws, investigating crimes, providing for security of county courthouses, serving civil process paperwork, and the overall safety of Orange County. Additionally, I am responsible for the operation of the county detention facility, more commonly known as the jail. Deputies help me carry out the former functions and detention officers provide for the safety and well-being of those in my custody. Each role requires a specialized training program. Detention officers complete a five-week program, Basic Detention Officer Training (BDOT), while deputies receive their certification upon the successful completion of a 20-week Basic Law Enforcement Training class commonly called BLET. The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission is responsible for both certifications. I hire deputies with experience serving in other agencies as well as people brand new to law enforcement. New, uncertified hires initially serve in the detention center. Within a year, they are required to attend and successfully complete BDOT where they receive twenty-two separate blocks of instruction, including crisis intervention, preventing and responding to facility emergencies, conflict resolution, and the management and supervision of offenders. Once certified, they return to work in the detention center. After a year or so, an interested detention officer can ask to be considered for BLET, or they may continue to serve in the jail. Shortly after I became Sheriff, we started our own BLET academy. We felt it best for our community if cadets received training from people who understood the dynamics and needs of our region, and we knew we had talented instructors. Together with Durham Technical Community College, we created an academy pitched to a philosophical sweet spot. An overly militaristic program would not be conducive to our brand of friendly, trustworthy, and approachable service, but we still wanted to create a program with a standard of unwavering excellence. After seven years, our academy enjoys an excellent reputation; we recently began teaching our eighth class of cadets. These cadets face a rigorous program of academic work, practical skill building, and physical fitness training. I generally welcome the cadets early in the program; they don’t see me again until the school director and the training coordinator tell me, “We have our class.” By this, they mean the students who are unable to handle the rigor have washed out, and those capable of completing the course have gelled as a unit. At this point, I return to campus and present them with the class football, which is the outward symbol of my faith in them. The class leader protects the football for the rest of the course and returns it to me at the graduation ceremony. The football I will soon present to Class 8 is as pristine as it was on the day I gave it to Class 1. In addition to training cadets who will work for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we enroll students from neighboring jurisdictions. The current class has students from my office, Person County Sheriff’s Office, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Duke University Police Departments. Each class has a motto, and each maintains a memory wall. On the wall, members paste a short tribute to every law enforcement officer who dies in the United States performing his or her duties during the duration of the class. This is always a very sobering list, but a powerful reminder of the importance of service and the willingness to sacrifice. Many cadets are employed by an agency during their time in the academy, as is the case when my detention officers seek to become deputies. Others come to the academy on their own time, but under the sponsorship of an agency. A sponsoring agency conducts the background check and certifies the student meets all requirements. Although sponsored students have tuition waivers for program costs (approximately $2,400.00 for an in-state student), they must buy their own books and uniforms, and there is no promise of employment. Our academy, however, enjoys a reputation for graduating law enforcement professionals dedicated to doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, for the right reason; graduating cadets generally have no trouble finding a position in our area. If you think you might be interested in a rewarding career, please come see me. I’d love to tell you more about how you can get started. Previous Next

8158fa74-bd18-4543-a98a-8e572ab346db < Back MAN CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF CHILD EXPLOITATION March 11, 2025 Hillsborough, NC (March 12, 2025) – Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office charged Joseph Mejer, 45, of Carrboro today with ten counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class E felony. After receiving an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) tip, ICAC task force members began working this case in January 2025. Second-degree exploitation involves sharing material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity. Assisted by Special Agent Ray Oliver of the Computer Crimes Unit at the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, investigators served a search warrant on Mejer at his residence this morning. The magistrate placed him into the custody of the detention center under a $5,000.00 secured bond and set his first court appearance for 2:00 pm tomorrow afternoon. Investigator Gilchrist is the lead investigator, and more charges are possible. Anyone with information is asked to call him at (919) 245-2928. ### Previous Next 1/0

6f6a24ef-8b0c-4654-92f1-ad4ef6cc300d #44, Crisis Unit January 25, 2023 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Amber Keith-Drowns has been assisting people experiencing domestic violence or intimate-partner abuse for over 21 years; most practitioners in her field burn out within four years. Unfortunately, Amber’s tenacity has its genesis in family tragedy - her grandmother died as the result of interpersonal-family violence. I frequently say that most people in the law enforcement profession have their “WHY,” and Amber is no exception. She keeps her grandmother’s photo on her desk as a visible symbol of her motivation. Every day, Amber reads deputy reports and follows up on domestic disturbances, sexual assaults, child abuse situations, and anything a patrol deputy indicates might benefit from her expertise. She then processes any paperwork related to domestic violence protective orders (DVPO), and she communicates with clerks, judges, and involved advocates. She also provides services to people who call or walk into the office requesting assistance, information, or advice related to domestic violence. Some people are surprised that domestic violence and intimate-partner abuse affect both men and women and occur across all demographic categories, professions, and socioeconomic levels. Violence, of course, includes physical assaults of some sort, whereas abuse involves intimidation or the manipulation of power and control through mental, emotional, financial, or other means. Many people know something is unhealthy about their relationship, but because they have not been physically assaulted, they aren’t sure how to characterize their situation. Such people have what Amber calls “lightbulb moments” in her office when they recognize an abusive relationship can exist even in the absence of bruising or broken bones. In other words, domestic violence is one form of an abusive relationship, but it is not the only one. A DVPO is also known as a 50B, a term which refers to the chapter in the North Carolina General Statutes governing civil actions related to domestic violence. Although it has limitations, a 50B is a powerful tool in the fight against domestic violence. These restraining orders can require an abuser to stay away and have no contact with the victim. The defendant might be ordered to leave the shared residence, and the victim may receive temporary custody of children, at least until a safety plan can be established. In 2022, our Crisis Unit filed 254 DVPOs, assisted with 110 filed by others, and provided consultation, enforcement, or ancillary service related to 108 DVPOs from other counties and states. Of course, not everyone we help needs, wants, or qualifies for a 50B. Therefore, the Crisis Unit provided information and referral, advocacy, assistance with criminal warrants, emergency response, and other forms of supportive services to 1,272 additional people last year. Two full-time law enforcement officers assist Amber. Deputy C. Faircloth has primary responsibility for serving and enforcing DVPOs and/or release conditions established by a judge in a criminal matter. Faircloth also monitors the communications of detention center residents who have been ordered not to contact their victims. Often, newly arrested people make a phone call to the victim in their case almost immediately upon entering the facility. Many continue to do so, despite judicial orders prohibiting such contact and multiple phone system warnings advising that all calls are monitored and recorded! Deputy C. Miller provides supplementary services through the EASE program, an acronym for Empowerment, Advocacy, Safety, and Enforcement. A Governor’s Crime Commission grant supports this program. Who wrote the grant application? Why, Amber, of course! Functioning as a liaison with the District Attorney’s Office and the District Court Judges who hear these cases, Deputy Miller communicates with victims and collaborating agencies, addresses safety and lethality concerns, and facilitates supervised custody exchanges. The National Advocate Credentialing Program recently certified Amber as an Advanced Comprehensive Victim Intervention Specialist in domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking. Beth Posner, Clinical Associate Professor at the UNC School of Law, wrote a letter in support of Amber’s application for this credential. She said, “Amber creates the docket and sits next to the clerk and the judge, demonstrating the profound role advocacy can play in a courtroom when an advocate has earned the respect and admiration she has within our civil and criminal justice system.” Moreover, the Hillsborough Exchange Club, an organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, paid the fee for Amber’s credentialing application and provides emergency supplies for victims. This robust community support speaks volumes. In any emergency, call 911. If you are not in immediate danger, but experience violence or abuse within your relationship, contact our Crisis Unit at (919) 644-3050 or by clicking the Crisis Unit tab on our homepage (www.ocsonc.com ) and selecting “Request Crisis Unit Contact.” Walk-in service is also available Monday through Friday. Amber and her team are ready to help. Previous Next

72f5b83d-5731-441d-aff9-6c409d395d6d #40, Social Media September 28, 2022 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood My mother taught me that if I couldn’t say anything nice, I shouldn’t say anything at all. Bernard Meltzer, the former radio host of a long-running advice call-in show, went farther down this path when he said, “Before you speak, ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.” Since the tragic murders of Devin Clark and Lyric Woods, I am not sure if there is any place these pieces of advice are more needed than on social media platforms. Many people posted comments that would fail Meltzer’s test. The Sheriff’s Office has a social media presence for many reasons, chief among them to connect with our community. We post our press releases, provide traffic alerts, educate people about current scam activity, showcase the success of our deputies, detention officers, and staff, and let the community know when we are hurting. We find that efforts spent building this community pay dividends when we need to communicate about emergencies like dangerous weather events or road closures, and seeking assistance to identify a suspect or to help locate a missing person. However, social media is a double-edged sword; nowhere has this been more evident than with the recent case involving the murders of Devin and Lyric. We saw many mistruths about the case posted, particularly on Facebook. Some were minor, such as the repeated fallacy that trail cameras recorded relevant footage of the crime. They did not. Others were quite harmful and damaging, full of false allegations that family members of one of the victims committed the crimes. This myth persisted even after investigators sought a juvenile petition against a 17-year-old-suspect. Many comments were unkind. People called some commenters names or criticized the grammar of others. Many people wrote as if they had knowledge or inside information to add to the conversation, but they were incorrect about facts of the case, matters of juvenile law, the number of people involved, when an AMBER Alert can be issued, and who owned the land where the bodies were located. These assertions certainly were not necessary. Social media has a very important place in our collective discourse, but everyone should remember these platforms are not news sites. Reporters from sanctioned news outlets generally follow journalistic standards, among which are that facts must be checked, sources must be verified, and opinions should be reasonably identifiable as such. In other words, journalists endeavor to be truthful, timely, and transparent with what they present to the public. A person commenting on social media has no such obligations and sometimes no such intent. In my opinion, social media comments overall likely have intensified the grief of those who knew and loved Devin and Lyric. Here at my office, plowing through comments to search for relevant information or leads has been a time-consuming drain on resources. Although we are tough and can take it, reading unkind posts about our competence, motives, and ethics as we mine the comments for useful information is not a neutral endeavor. I, for one, have never found the old adage about sticks and stones to contain much wisdom. Words do have power, and they can hurt. That said, we are thankful for those who express faith in our abilities, gratitude for our efforts, and empathy for the unspeakable difficulty of the work we do, especially when investigating a case as tragic as this one. As is well known, we are seeking to apprehend a 17-year-old suspect. Juvenile law prohibits us from saying more. This prohibition is not a recommendation or a suggestion. It is ironclad. We know people are confused, scared, angry, and hungry for information. Even so, we are unable to share additional information with the families of the victims, we cannot talk to mainstream media outlets about details, and we will not post specifics on social media platforms. Once apprehended, the suspect will maintain an absolute right to complete confidentiality while the case remains under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. This protection will be hard for people to accept. Although the public is anxious to learn more details, pressure from social media does not alter the law we are sworn to uphold. When we communicate with those we serve, we do our best to be professional and kind, working always to build trust. We will continue to do so. Previous Next

00f98600-26b9-4bdb-96e1-13a67a084bc5 #81, Parakaleo February 25, 2026 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood An education is a wonderful thing to have, but social media is probably not the best place to find one. That said, you can learn a lot if you know where to look. I enjoy listening to author and motivational speaker Ryan Leak, because he regularly delivers nuggets of wisdom. I recently watched one of his videos in which he spoke about “parakaleo.” Now that I know this concept, I see it in action everywhere. Parakaleo comes from the Greek words para , meaning “alongside,” and kaleo , which means “to call.” Simply put, parakaleo is the practice of coming alongside of someone and encouraging them forward. With such a mindset, a person does not let others shrink back; rather, he or she supports them as they move forward in a positive direction. Dean Smith, the legendary, late UNC basketball coach, intuitively understood parakaleo. He taught his players that after scoring, they should point to the player who passed them the ball, publicly sharing the credit for the basket by acknowledging the assist. I saw my friend Bob Epting the other day, and he looked a little down. I was on my way to an appointment, and I didn’t have much time, but I stopped and asked him if he was okay. He said he just finished a slightly stressful, time-sensitive task and that he was otherwise fine. I told him how much he matters to me and reminded him to take care of himself. We had a nice exchange, and as we were talking, a young man walked up and asked for help with a dead car battery. I started to arrange for a deputy to bring him a jump box, but Bob interrupted and said, “You go on, Charles. I know you are headed somewhere. I’ve got this.” I spent a few minutes giving encouragement and care to Bob, and before we even parted company, he was paying it forward by investing helpful energy into someone else. Parakaleo in action is contagious, much like laughter and enthusiasm. With the right mindset, anyone can pull alongside someone and push them forward. Sadly, the reverse is also true. Remember the old saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me”? I think we all know words can indeed hurt, and I believe destructive criticism is the opposite of parakaleo. I once attended an event to which I wore my favorite sport coat, a handsome tie, my favorite boots, and a nice pair of crisp blue pants. My wife picked out my jacket, and I love it. As soon as we arrived at the event, three or four people came up to me and complimented my beautiful coat before one person walked by and criticized my wardrobe choices. That one dig really stung, hitting me with more power than the multiple compliments, not because I am thin-skinned, but because of something scientists call negativity bias. With survival as the goal, evolution wired our brains to pay more attention to threats than to compliments, which is why the way we talk to people matters. We have the power to balance the scales by making sure people hear kindness more often than criticism. I recently gave the keynote at WHCL’s Hometown Hero luncheon during which the station celebrated those honored throughout the year in a popular weekly promotion. Almost no one in that room thought they did anything heroic – most of them said, “I was just doing my job.” However, we are a community full of people who notice the good deeds of others, pull alongside them, and push them forward by nominating them for public recognition because we know that what they do matters. Elite paracletes know that support can also be a passive practice. In other words, serving others doesn’t have to be hard or make you break into a sweat! Sometimes just listening to someone who seems down, harried, or frustrated is all it takes to allow them to move forward again. Put away your phone, make eye contact, avoid interrupting, and give the gift of your undivided attention. Usually, people don’t need us to offer solutions for their problems. They just need our support as they work through them. Every Tuesday morning, as we conclude staff meeting, I say, “Go forth and do good things.” Maybe I’ll start saying, “Go forth, do good things, and encourage someone to move forward with you.” Previous Next