The Lowdown Archive

Our communication manager, Alicia Stemper, is retiring next week. She has been in the position since February 2019, telling the people we serve the story of our work in both words and images. In her role, she is responsible for news releases, crisis communication, social media, relationships with journalists, maintaining our mobile app, fulfilling public records requests, and a myriad of other duties.

Alicia joined the Sheriff’s Office after serving as a magistrate, and a mitigation investigator. Earlier in her career, she was a crisis counselor with the Chapel Hill Police Department. Those experiences, combined with her writing and photography skills, prepared her for the unique demands of public safety communication. Our work is funded by taxpayers, and we are accountable for how we use those dollars. At the same time, we must comply with public‑records laws that limit what can be released about victims and children and uphold the due‑process rights of those accused. As Alicia has learned, crafting a news release that explains what happened, protects the investigation, and avoids further trauma—while still giving the public a clear understanding—is exceptionally difficult.

I asked her for 10 takeaways about her job that she would like to share with readers of this column. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. If people have a question, need assistance, or are confused about almost any community issue, the Sheriff’s Office is a good place to start.

2. Social media is a wonderful way to share information quickly with many people. That said, it is not a substitute for traditional journalism or critical thought. Moreover, it is generally a waste of time and keystrokes to argue with people on such platforms.

3. No one likes to hear “No comment.” Find something relevant you can share, even if it is just reassurance that trained people are doing their best.

4. Sometimes, events that happen hundreds of miles away can create a very busy day for a communication manager.

5. This community REALLY appreciates photos of icy/snowy roads.

6. Scammers are evil and very good at what they do. Continue to learn about their tactics and technologies. Remember the simple power of hanging up the phone.

7. Follow emergency preparedness advice. In times of mass disaster, preparation gives you a 72-hour head start on survival and is often the difference between an inconvenient few days and a full-blown      crisis.

8. When you are on the road, drive sober, slow down, stop for pedestrians and school buses, and most importantly, don’t be a butthead. It’s not that hard.

9. Call people back. Reply to email. Double check details. Proofread EVERYTHING. Have someone else check your work.  Be careful with humor and recognize that using the word “butthead” will not be amusing to some people. Accept that you will still make mistakes. Lather, rinse, repeat, but don’t use the word butthead again.

10. Under Sheriff Blackwood's leadership, our deputies, detention officers, and professional staff      provide engaged, dedicated, and compassionate service to Orange County. Do your best to find work you love and good people to do it with, and you will never work a day in your life.

I can say from firsthand observation that Alicia generally worked with a camera in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. The essence of her job has been to tell the stories of what happens here and to introduce residents to the people who do the work of public safety.

Merrily McGowan will take over the communication manager role starting September 1. Please join me in welcoming her to the team!

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We hope our newest—and most expensive—vehicle spends most of its time parked in a garage. Its beauty does not come from sleek lines, good looks, or a flashy paint color. We won’t measure its value by the miles on its odometer, its speed, or its fuel efficiency. We only care that it is ready and available when the rare emergencies arise that ordinary patrol vehicles simply can’t handle. If this vehicle becomes the busiest in our fleet, something has gone terribly wrong.

A Bearcat is an armored rescue vehicle, designed for law enforcement and public safety use. It is specialized protective equipment, much like turnout gear for firefighters. It helps first responders get into and back out of the relatively uncommon situations when lives are at stake, protecting both those in peril and those working to rescue them.

Other nearby agencies have used Bearcats to provide ballistic protection while transporting officers closer to an active shooter. We all shudder to imagine an armed suspect in one of our schools. If we face that situation, we will need more than a patrol car to drive across the playground or parking lot while he or she fires at us. These vehicles are also useful in hostage situations, during the service of high-risk warrants, when recovering a wounded deputy from an active crime scene, or rescuing civilians from dangerous places such as amid an unruly crowd or from under a crumbling bridge.

We borrowed a Bearcat from Alamance County in March 2025, after a person fired a weapon during a domestic dispute at an apartment complex. We were fortunate the vehicle was available—and that no one was injured during the hour it took to reach us after we requested it. In the meantime, several residents had no safe way to leave a nearby building. When the Bearcat arrived, deputies used the vehicle as a moving armored shield, positioning it to create a protected route to safety away from the shooter. Once no one else was in danger, the Bearcat provided secure cover for deputies to drive right up to the door of the apartment, breach it with a front-mounted hydraulic tool, and then search the residence with an interior drone.

Built on a heavy-duty commercial truck chassis and protected by certified ballistic steel, a Bearcat, short for Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck, can transport a dozen deputies and their specialized equipment during situations where ordinary vehicles could not operate safely. Its design enables it to travel over rough terrain, through floodwaters, or into areas threatened by gunfire or structural hazards.

A Bearcat belongs in the same category as an ambulance or fire engine—it is specialized, life-saving equipment designed for situations no one wants to face.  Not surprisingly, such vehicles are expensive.  In fact, at $334,505, this rescue vehicle is one of the largest single equipment purchases our office has ever made. We paid for it with funds from the federal equitable sharing program, not Orange County tax dollars.

When we investigate cases of criminal enterprise alongside agents from the federal government, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the U.S. Marshals Service, we receive a portion of any assets seized. Common examples include cash, vehicles, and firearms. The Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund and the Treasury Department establish strict rules governing how these funds may be spent. Those rules require that we use them for training or equipment that enhances public safety or improves law enforcement capabilities beyond what our regular budget can provide. The Bearcat is such an acquisition.

We were on hand in Caswell County when deputies there used a Bearcat to approach an active shooter. The vehicle gave deputies a position of protection and changed the dynamics of the encounter. Despite the heavy gunfire, including multiple rounds that struck the vehicle, all deputies inside it emerged without injury. The gunman, who surrendered, was also unharmed. No one asked how many miles the Bearcat had on the odometer. They didn’t ask what it cost or complain about how it looked.

I hope our Bearcat collects dust in a garage rather than miles on the road. But if the day comes when deputies drive into gunfire to rescue a wounded officer, evacuate trapped civilians, or shield children from danger, no one will be measuring its value by the purchase price. The only thing that will matter is that we did our job, brought people home safely, and lived to tell about it.

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Author’s note: I completed drafting this article four days prior to County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford’s unexpected death. As I wrote it, she was on my mind, as she always valued public safety and respected those doing its work. I believe her impact on all she served with or for will be a lasting one, and I offer my condolences to Mrs. Bedford’s family, friends, and colleagues.

North Carolina's state budget is in its final legislative stages, and it proposes historic pay raises for law enforcement. State correctional officers are expected to receive a 10.1% to 17.7% pay increase next year if the budget passes as it is currently written.

These increased salaries are overdue and much deserved, especially for employees serving in the state prisons, where staffing is down an average of 30%, and exceeds 60% in some facilities. Such low staffing is unsafe for prisoners and workers alike.  But I want to make something clear. The state budget covers officers serving in state agencies (Alcohol Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, State Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Adult Correction). It does not pay the salaries of deputy sheriffs, detention officers, or municipal police officers. These are funded locally.

In Orange County, as in most places, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) faced tough decisions this year as it worked toward adopting a final budget. It is perennially difficult to balance competing priorities, especially against the backdrop of reduced state and federal funding, but still, I think it is safe to say Commissioners faced extra challenges this budget season.

I am very pleased that despite the pressure of inflation and the high cost of living, the BOCC decided to leave our structured Step Pay Plan in place. First implemented in 2021, the plan values prior public safety experience. Those with specific certifications or relevant education earn more than the starting base pay of candidates just entering the field. It also creates a clear career path by hiring those without experience at a training rate, then increases their pay once they complete required certification courses and assume full duties. Finally, the plan provides guaranteed pay adjustments for continuing to serve at our Sheriff’s Office.

The structured plan reflects the reality that it is expensive to recruit, screen, hire, equip, and train deputies and detention officers. By the time we take the training wheels off, we have invested far more in the rider than we have in the bicycle. Without a Step Pay Plan providing predictable wage growth, Orange County detention officers may choose to take their skills and experience to the state prison system, and we risk losing deputies to the Highway Patrol, ALE and SBI.

Many people use the terms prison and jail interchangeably, but they have different functions. Prisons house those convicted of their crimes by the courts and given substantial sentences. County detention centers primarily house individuals awaiting trial or those convicted to serve very short sentences. Although their missions differ somewhat, detention officers and correctional officers face many of the same challenges and dangers.

I bring these details to your attention to highlight why I think the BOCC’s decision to keep the Step Pay Plan is such an important one. Our staffing levels are currently holding steady, but that stability can erode quickly if experienced employees leave for higher-paying opportunities. Proper staffing levels improve jail safety, reduce mistakes, escapes, and burn-out, all while protecting taxpayer investment.

I want the best and the brightest to wear the badge of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. I like to hire great people, train them appropriately, and reward their dedication. I do not want to lose them simply because another agency offers higher pay.

Funding community needs is not cheap. Few people welcome higher taxes, even when they support the services those funds provide. The public servants on the BOCC work hard year after year, continually striving to keep Orange County an exceptional place to live and a desirable place to work. They understand that if a county wants to be either, it needs to be both. My team and I want to publicly thank them for their hard work and ongoing support.

If you or someone you know is interested in a career of service, we invite you to explore opportunities with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. We are committed to hiring exceptional people, providing the best equipment, and supporting them throughout their careers.

“Don’t drink and drive.” If you asked 100 people whether those words are good advice, I wager all would agree. The statistical relationship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and crash risk is well established and ranks among the most replicated findings in traffic safety research. However, it is deeply disturbing that North Carolina law enforcement officers arrested 14,655 people for driving while impaired (DWI) in 2024.

A law enforcement officer in North Carolina must prove three essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a DWI conviction. The defendant must drive or operate a vehicle on a street, highway, or in a public vehicular area while impaired. A person meets this last element if he or she is under the influence of any impairing substance ­─ including prescription drugs or marijuana ─ that causes an appreciable loss of normal bodily or mental faculties. A person is also impaired if he or she has a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, or any amount of a Schedule I controlled substance or its metabolites in the blood or urine.

Although many people are aware of the 0.08 percent BAC limit, they may not understand the corresponding degree of impairment.  A standard drink is five ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor, or a 12-ounce beer.  An average-sized man may reach a 0.08 percent BAC after consuming four to five standard drinks within a single hour. Meanwhile, it might take only three to four drinks for a woman. Please note these are broad generalizations. Some people are significantly impaired with a lower BAC, and others may appear to function well despite consuming a higher number of standard drinks. Regardless, with a 0.08 percent BAC, a person is considered legally impaired ─ drunk, and not merely buzzed. Accordingly, he or she experiences slower reaction time, poor coordination, and diminished judgment, all of which are necessary for safely operating a vehicle.

We aim to remove impaired drivers from Orange County roads, as we see too many preventable alcohol-related tragedies. Fortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established six categories of visual clues to help law enforcement officers identify drivers who may be drunk.

For example, if a motorist has trouble maintaining proper lane position, demonstrated by weaving, swerving, or almost striking another object, the probability that the driver’s BAC exceeds 0.08 ranges between 50 and 70 percent. If a deputy observes multiple clues or clues from more than one category, the likelihood that the driver is impaired increases.

After observing clues and conducting a traffic stop, the officer asks for the driver’s license and registration and likely directs the driver to exit the vehicle. Drivers must comply with such requests; however, they retain other rights, such as remaining silent or requesting legal counsel.

A deputy suspecting impairment usually asks the driver to perform standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) to evaluate the person’s condition. Although the driver can refuse, the magistrate may use such a refusal as an indicator that weighs in favor of establishing probable cause to arrest.  SFSTs include looking for specific involuntary eye movements, the walk-and-turn test, and a one-leg stand. Again, the more clues a driver exhibits, the higher the probability the BAC is above a 0.08 percent.

If the deputy still believes the person is appreciably impaired, he or she will transport the driver to the Intoxilyzer, an instrument that measures blood alcohol concentration through breath analysis. If a driver refuses to blow, he or she faces immediate revocation of driving privileges, and the deputy will ask a magistrate to grant a search warrant to draw the defendant’s blood. The blood draw occurs by force if necessary and may reveal the presence of additional impairing substances.

Generally, upon finding that the deputy had probable cause to make the arrest, a magistrate may allow a first-time offender to sign a written promise to appear in court and leave the detention center with a sober adult.

The wheels of justice turn slowly. It can take between six months and two years for a DWI case to reach final disposition. Along the way, the consequences add up and include embarrassment and inconvenience. The total cost generally ranges between $10,000 and $17,000 which may include court and legal fees, an alcohol assessment, increased insurance premiums, lost work time, the costs of alternate transportation, and more. These figures skyrocket if the defendant crashed or injured anyone.

There are many options cheaper than a lawyer, safer than a crash, and better for your future. I’ll therefore end where I began. Don’t drink and drive.

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Why do we give some people a warning and others a ticket for speeding? If marijuana is illegal in North Carolina, why aren’t we arresting and charging someone in possession of a small amount for personal use? How do deputies decide?

Law enforcement officers have discretion in most situations. For example: I recently pulled over a driver after she passed me going 110 miles per hour. When I approached her car, I saw the passenger writhing in pain. While I knew the driver had broken the law, I now understood why. I escorted her to the hospital rather than sending her to traffic court.

Our general policy is to seize and destroy small amounts of marijuana but not to charge the person with a crime. Although people legally use marijuana recreationally in many states, in North Carolina, possession of a small amount of the drug is a Class 3 misdemeanor and typically results in a fine with no jail time. Taking someone to the magistrate’s office for that offense is a significant drain on a deputy’s time. It is more important for us to remain on patrol, responding to true public safety emergencies. Other jurisdictions in North Carolina make different choices and will arrest for any amount of marijuana. Communities set their own priorities. We choose to focus on drug traffickers moving large quantities of illegal substances—not those who might smoke a joint now and then.

There are also times when the law removes discretion. Under N.C.G.S. §50B-2, if a deputy has probable cause to believe someone has violated a protective order, he or she SHALL make a warrantless arrest. Shall is a powerful word. Where most laws give deputies authority, not a mandate to act, this one requires a specific action—even if the officer believes another course might be more appropriate. In these cases, the statute also limits the magistrate’s discretion to set the conditions of pretrial release. The alleged offender must be held in the detention center for a 48-hour cooling-off period.

Deputies also have no discretion when it comes to the duty to intervene. The Criminal Justice Reform bill, passed in September 2021, addresses the “blue wall of silence.” If a law enforcement officer witnesses a colleague committing what the observing person believes to be an unlawful act, such as the use of excessive force, he or she MUST step in or speak up. Additionally, the law requires the observing officer to report the incident to a superior within 72 hours.

Courts have made clear that an officer’s use of discretion must be judged based on the facts and circumstances as they appeared at the time—not what is later learned. Expecting an officer to distinguish a real gun from a toy weapon while standing 50 yards away is not reasonable. Expecting officers on scene to intervene when a fellow officer keeps a knee on a man’s neck for nine minutes is. Likewise, civilians should avoid inserting facts known to them or later discovered into their evaluation of a use-of-force incident. Regardless of whether the officer knew the person was a church deacon, a single father, or a cancer patient, such details have no bearing on whether the officer’s actions were appropriate.

Citizens exercise discretion as well. My cell phone number hangs on the wall in the public lobby of the Sheriff’s Office. I put it there because I trust people to know the difference between calling me in the middle of the night for an urgent matter and waking me up seeking a restaurant recommendation.

Civilians also exercise discretion when the decide to call law enforcement. Not every unfamiliar situation is a threat, and not every person who “looks out of place” is doing something wrong. Perception is shaped by experience—and sometimes by bias. Calls based on misinterpretation can divert deputies from true emergencies and create unnecessary encounters that escalate tensions rather than resolve them. People should report legitimate concerns promptly, but we all share a responsibility to pause, assess, and ensure that what we are seeing is truly a law enforcement matter before dialing 911.

The law does not account for every human circumstance, so we ask deputies to consider situations with judgment, context, and humanity. We deal with people—not just violations on paper. When deputies exercise discretion wisely, and when people extend it thoughtfully in return, trust grows, deputies are more effective, and our communities become safer.

“Love people. Cook them tasty food.” Those are six powerful words. It is purely coincidental—but nonetheless appropriate—that we christened our office cooking group Grill Team 6.

A team of deputies comprises this cadre of chefs, and a rotating cast of characters provides frequent assistance and hilarious banter. Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Organization (SOCO) is the nonprofit 501(c)(3) that contributes financial support to and hands-on help with office initiatives, fundraising efforts, and food-prep projects.

SOCO and Grill Team 6 will again showcase their partnership on April 29 at our annual and highly anticipated Chicken Pickin’ fundraiser. That day, they fire up a dozen giant grills at 5:00 a.m. and prepare barbecued chicken plates with green beans, potatoes, and a roll. Members of the Timeless Cruizers Car Club donate the chicken and assist with grilling duties. SOCO helps with the behind-the-scenes prep necessary for such an ambitious undertaking. They also source supplies, help plate and package approximately 1,000 meals, and sell tickets. Drop by the office at 106 E. Margaret Lane in Hillsborough to purchase yours!

In 2023, SOCO used Chicken Pickin’ proceeds to help purchase 67 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for law enforcement and the South Orange Rescue Squad—its largest single donation to date. In the last two years, among many other contributions, SOCO has funded meals for disaster volunteers after Chantal, purchased CPR mannequins and child safety seats, replaced AED batteries and pads, ordered a new US flag for the office, and supported our annual Shop with the Sheriff event.

SOCO also helps us with our roasted corn-on-the-cob sale at Hog Day, an annual community event in September. Grill Team 6 knows just the right ratio of soaking to roasting time, and SOCO offers every customer a dazzling array of seasonings for a customized flavor experience. Every year, SOCO uses some of the corn sale revenue to award the Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass Memorial Scholarship to a high school senior planning to study criminal justice in college.

My team and I are committed to helping people age in place with dignity and support. We regularly prepare a hot dog lunch for up to 75 residents experiencing food insecurity or who are homebound. Grill Team 6 and Detention Center dietary staff cook the franks and fixings. SOCO packages the meals before we load them into Meals on Wheels vehicles for delivery.

We also believe in supporting those who visit or travel through Orange County. Therefore, we occasionally prepare food for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill while UNC Hospitals care for their children. It is incredibly stressful to be away from home, worried about your child, surrounded by strangers, and far from your usual sources of comfort and support. Coping with all of that—and figuring out how to feed yourself every day—is nearly impossible. Once again, we rely on SOCO to help us prepare, package, and serve the meals.

SOCO volunteers make snow cones and serve popcorn at community events. They bring us lunch on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. They show up to support and feed school bus drivers at our annual appreciation breakfast. But believe it or not, they are not only about food!

Last year, by my conservative estimate, they provided more than 1,500 hours of service, saving tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Many help with Shop with the Sheriff. Some come to the office to shred and file important documents. Others helps fingerprint those who need background checks for work. If we need a photographer at a community event and my communications manager is busy, we call Rob. When it’s time to put classroom materials together for Citizens’ Academy, Ken is the wizard.

Want to get involved? Buy tickets for the Chicken Pickin’—on sale now through April 20, 2026. Order ten or more plates and we will deliver. Consider attending our Citizens’ Academy, where you can have a good time, learn about the inner workings of our office, and qualify to become a SOCO member upon graduation. Plus, thanks to SOCO, we usually provide dinner! Clearly, we take Virginia Woolf to heart. She said, “One cannot think well, love well, or sleep well, if one has not dined well.” Take it from me—you also can’t Sheriff well! When we feed people, we are connecting with the community we serve, and SOCO volunteers help us do it.

Bon appétit!

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.”

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.

As the final days of 2025 tick away, it has now been 45 years since I began my law enforcement career. On December 16, 1980, when I first put on the uniform as a deputy, I never imagined such longevity. As my third term as Sheriff continues, my father’s advice, “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life” deeply resonates with me.

I periodically reflect on my first days as Sheriff back in December 2014. I expected establishing a new culture to be challenging, but it turned out to be relatively easy. I centered everything on the premise that employees are a Sheriff’s greatest asset. I trusted that if they felt important, valued, supported, and appreciated, they would perform well and earn community respect. We took a fresh look at our policies, adjusted those that were well-intentioned but poorly planned, and engaged in a continual process of evaluation and improvement. With state-of-the-art training and equipment, employees are safer. They think creatively, work efficiently, and interact confidently with the public and those in our custody at the detention center. I hear almost daily how well they represent the mission and values of this office.

About a year ago in this column, I wrote about the importance of partnerships. Every time we collectively solve complicated problems, we learn something from the other professionals involved, and we improve our working relationships. Almost every crisis we face is easier because of the ones that came before it; there is simply no substitute for experience. Coalitions formed during rapidly evolving, tense, and dangerous situations tend to be particularly strong, and we rely on this trust when public safety is at stake. Because relationships are of immeasurable value to a Sheriff, I continuallydevote energy to building new ones. Trust must be built before the blue lights flash; therefore, we work to build connection with those we serve at community centers, in the courts, through the schools, at parades and public events, and with those who walk in the front door seeking assistance with administrative needs, civil process, or personal crisis.

It’s no secret that providing 24/7/365 patrol and detention services for a county of more than 150,000 people spread across 401 square miles and bisected by two major interstates is an expensive undertaking. A Sheriff must be a fiscally responsible steward of public funds, and I value our excellent working relationship with the Orange County Board of Commissioners and Kirk Vaughn, our county budget director. We technically operate under two budgets – one for the detention center and one for all other operations. Chief Deputy Tina Sykes carefully balances our needs versus our wants as she manages both. She evaluates every expense using a simple test: if the item, initiative, training, or program directly relates to the safety of our employees or the public we serve, it is a need. Other requests may fall more into the category of a want. For example, newer, smaller, more powerful flashlights might be nice to have, but we only purchase them after meeting higher priorities.

Many sheriffs across the nation have struggled with hiring and retaining employees. Some now provide hiring bonuses, a practice I prefer to avoid. I believe in hiring right, not rushing to hire right now. Retention bonuses, however, have merit; rewarding longevity helps a Sheriff keep talent and build institutional knowledge. We are fortunate to have a staff member dedicated to identifying and hiring quality candidates and ensuring their continual training. Moreover, you can’t buy advertisements as powerful as the personal testimony of employees who are proud of the work they do and the colleagues with whom they do it! We continually find that current team members are among our best recruiters.

I chair the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission whose website links to the NC Statistical Analysis Center and the NC Justice Data Portal. Using 2024 statistics— the most recent available—I am pleased to report that Orange County has a crime rate 14.1% lower than the statewide average. This figure represents 790 fewer crimes per 100,000 people and a meaningfully lower individual risk per resident. I am also pleased that our Criminal Investigations Division has solved 100% of homicides occurring during my tenure as Sheriff.

I am very fortunate to do work I love alongside truly talented people. Together, our accomplishments have exceeded my expectations, and I head into 2026 grateful for the opportunity to continue serving. I wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season.

On May 17, 2025, a person walking a dog in a wooded area off Hawk Ridge Road found human remains. Six months later, little is yet known about the decedent. However, that does not mean little has been done. I am writing to provide an update about the case and peek behind the curtain into the complexity and challenge presented by this type of case.

When investigators and deputies arrived at the scene that Saturday afternoon, they found the scattered bones of a mostly skeletonized person. As is standard practice, we asked the on-call medical examiner (ME) to respond. We then conducted a joint investigation, both seeking to learn the decedent’s identity and what happened.  In such cases, we look for evidence to determine what, if any, crimes occurred, and who committed them, while the medical examiner focuses on when the person died, by what cause, and in what manner. Although cause and manner may sound the same, they are not. Cause refers to the specific medical reason for the death, while manner goes to whether the death occurred by homicide, suicide, accident, natural causes, or if the reason is undetermined.  For example, if the ME found a “penetrating cerebral wound from gunshot injury to the head” as the cause of death, the manner could be homicide, suicide, or accidental.

Nothing at the scene provided clues to suggest the cause of the decedent’s death. Further, it remains unclear if the person died in those woods or if someone transported the body there after death.

After investigators photographed and measured the scene, collected evidence, and the ME examined the remains, officials transported the body to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in Raleigh. The OCME also found no obvious cause of death, not surprising given the pronounced decomposition of the body.  Staff there estimated the person died sometime in the latter part of 2024.

After studying the bones, a medical examiner specialist opined to our investigators that the decedent was likely a female adult, probably between 18 and 35 years old, with braces on only her bottom teeth. 

Although we hoped this specific detail might help identify the person, investigators searched the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) without success. This repository contains information about missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases. Specifically, it includes 650 missing persons and 158 unidentified bodies from North Carolina.

When the OCME is unable to identify a person, the case passes to a forensic anthropologist for a more detailed examination of the bones. Such work can reveal important biological details, such as age, sex, stature, and perhaps ancestry. Skeletal abnormalities sometimes point to cause of death or reveal details about the decedent’s medical history or prior trauma. It may be several more months before the forensic pathologist issues a report. We are hopeful it will provide new direction for the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, genealogists will attempt to identify the person using an analysis of DNA from the body. An original DNA lab report includes tremendously long strings of letters representing clusters of genes. A genealogist’s work can take several years as he or she slowly narrows the pool of possibility, using databases to compare these strings with millions of other profiles. Eventually, the genealogist might find a DNA match to a probable distant relative. The genealogist will then continue inching forward, seeking a first-degree relative such as a parent, child, or sibling.

Our experience teaches us the importance of remaining patient despite the painstaking and delicate nature of these investigations. Two years ago, a genealogist matched the DNA profile from an unidentified murder victim found more than 30 years ago in Orange County to some paternal cousins. Through a series of interviews, we eventually located a maternal aunt who reported that the family lost contact with her niece more than three decades prior. A subsequent analysis of the woman’s DNA confirmed the relationship and solved the mystery of the victim’s identity.

Patience also proved critical for the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier this month, they announced the identity of a woman killed in 1968 – probably setting the North Carolina record as the oldest cold case solved with the assistance forensic genealogy. Sheriff Willie Rowe said, “Law enforcement never gives up…and we embrace technology and partnerships to solve crimes.”

Returning to the Hawk Ridge Road case, investigators have no reason to think there is any danger to residents in the area. Quite possibly, someone may have dumped the body in the woods after the death occurred elsewhere. But undoubtedly, neighbors remain disconcerted by the tragedy, and somewhere, a family longs for information about their loved one.

If you have any information, please call Sergeant K. Goodwin, the lead investigator, at (919) 245-2918.

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It is difficult to find something you aren’t looking for.

If we go to a domestic violence call, it would be irresponsible to assume everything is okay just because both parties deny needing assistance. We therefore rely on our training to look for context clues that will provide more insight about the situation. Are items in disarray? Does someone have a bruised neck or scratched upper arms? If we separate the people involved, do they tell the same story? It is precisely knowing what to look for that often helps get a victim out of danger.

Similarly, we know that swerving or failure to maintain a lane may suggest a person is driving while impaired. Therefore, we look for other clues. Are there empty beer cans in the vehicle? Are the driver’s eyes red or glassy? Does he or she seem clumsy while getting the registration out of the glove box?

Almost half a million children are missing in the United States, but shockingly, very few law enforcement officers are trained to look for them actively. Therefore, we recently started sending deputies to a relatively new program called Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC). IPC is an evidence-based curriculum created by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Interdiction refers to intercepting movement, most often discussed in terms of disrupting drug trafficking on our highways. For example, officers on a drug interdiction team might know where the natural cavities in a vehicle are. They are also trained to look for signs of tampering or modification that might indicate large amounts of narcotics are concealed within.

The goal of IPC is to broaden the perspective of law enforcement officers, teaching them how to identify missing children. Those with IPC training know that not every child in a vehicle is with a parent or other appropriate person. Believing that a child in the back seat will say, “Hi, I am Jane Doe, and this man kidnapped me three months ago” is not a reasonable expectation. Encountering a child is not the same as looking for a missing one.

The IPC program, important everywhere, is especially critical in North Carolina, which is consistently ranked in the country’s top 10 states for human trafficking. We have several major interstate highways, a significant military presence, large agricultural areas, a booming tourism industry, and we are approximately halfway between Florida and New York, all of which are factors conducive to exploiting people for profit.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety provides the multi-disciplinary IPC training through the North Carolina Justice Academy. The program has four primary pillars: train officers to identify individuals who pose a high risk to children; equip officers to recognize children who are being exploited, abused, or trafficked; teach officers about the resources available to help them determine the status of a child who may be missing or at risk; and prevent future crimes, partly through the effective prosecution of people who exploit children in any manner.

A deep dive into these pillars is beyond the scope of this article, but in brief, the first two pillars help law enforcement officers understand the coin has two sides. One is to identify what makes adult behavior suspicious; the other is to recognize how the actions of children and adolescents might provide clues to their status as victims. Those trained in IPC also understand why the presence of some objects and the absence of others might be cause for suspicion.

The third pillar is critical. Officers need to know how to access resources immediately to facilitate rescue with minimal additional trauma.  If they are unable to do that, officers log suspicious activity into a database that tracks patterns and searches for connections.  The final pillar recognizes the complexity of these crimes and the important work of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. The Conference prepares prosecutors to secure convictions in these complex, multijurisdictional criminal cases.

Within weeks of attending the training, one of our deputies, while assisting another agency on a call involving a runaway, recognized something was “off.” He viewed the juvenile as more than a rebellious teen and noticed signs that she might now be caught in a dangerous web. Despite the hour, he arranged for expert resources. The resulting forensic interview revealed the teen had been commercially sex trafficked since she went missing. Moreover, the interview led to the rescue of a second victim and criminal charges against three co-conspirators.

IPC is a mindset. Missing kids are out there. I want all my deputies trained to find them.

In the United States, a train strikes a person or a vehicle every three hours. That’s approximately eight collisions a day – an astonishing figure. The bad news continues: North Carolina has the thirteenth highest number of rail trespass deaths in the country.

September is Train Track Safety Month. You may have seen social media posts from Operation Lifesaver warning people to respect train tracks. Their annual campaign, “See Tracks? Think Train” raises awareness about rail safety. Train tracks are critical national infrastructure, and they are very dangerous places.

It would be absurd to walk in the middle of a highway or airport runway, but people don’t seem to have the same healthy respect for the risks of railroads. Obviously, trains cannot swerve, and it can take them more than a mile to stop. By the time an engineer sees a vehicle or a person on the tracks, he or she can only apply the brakes, blow the horn, and watch in terror while waiting for the inevitable – a helpless, terrible feeling.

Walking alongside the tracks is only marginally safer, as the rough, rocky ground can cause unexpected falls or twisted ankles. I hate to imagine stumbling onto the track and being unable to stand back up while a train thunders at me. Moreover, people who walk along rail lines often fail to realize that trains are wider than tracks; they typically have a significant overhang on each side.

It may come as a surprise that railroad tracks and the surrounding right of way are not public thoroughfares.  Tracks – even abandoned ones – are private property, and if a person is on them without permission, he or she is trespassing.

People trespass for a variety of reasons. Some are simply using the tracks as the shortest distance between two points, and they do not understand the dangers. Other people, often social media users, select tracks as a background for photography. Cell phone cameras have been around for about two decades now. It is probably not coincidental that rail trespass deaths over that period increased 44% (from 498 fatalities in 2002 to 718 in 2023). Too many people seek the rugged aesthetic of wood, metal, and sky, but rail lines have nothing to do with graduations, engagements, album cover art, or holiday greeting cards.

It seems that one would hear a train coming, but typically, the sound only arrives seconds before the machine itself. Modern trains glide on tracks with very little friction. The crushed rock under the tracks further dampens the noise. The sound waves radiate outward and behind the train more than they project forward. Especially in an environment with significant levels of ambient noise, such as nearby vehicle traffic or wind blowing through trees, a person in front of the train may not hear it until it is only seconds from impact.

People almost never survive a direct hit, and if they do, they generally suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries. The chance of survival is only slightly better when the train strikes someone from the side. If the train throws a person clear – rather than under the train, off a bridge, or into a solid object – he or she might live, but the odds are still terrible.

It is surprisingly difficult to judge the speed of a moving train. One reason is that larger objects appear to be moving more slowly than smaller ones traveling at the same speed.  Airplanes fly fast, yet when I watch one descend over the interstate into RDU airport, it appears to crawl through the sky. A second optical illusion compounds the difficulty of judging train speed. When humans view parallel lines stretching into the distance, our eyes perceive them as getting closer to each other until they meet at the horizon, even though our brains know tracks remain the same distance apart. This phenomenon causes the train to appear both farther away and slower than it is, a dangerous combination.

Drivers should never attempt to race through a marked crossing before the arms come down. I’ve seen people get trapped between the barriers with disastrous consequences. Likewise, motorists should stop, look both ways, and proceed with extreme caution at junctures without physical barriers and flashing lights. 

Trains are not required to sound their horns at all crossings; therefore, silence does not mean safety.

Except for passengers, employees, and those with explicit permission from the railroad, no one belongs on train tracks. Trains are fast, surprisingly quiet, and unable to stop quickly. A shortcut or a photograph is not worth the risk.