Blog: DPS Dispatch

April is Second Chance Month in North Carolina, a time to consider the challenges facing the more than 20,000 people returning to their communities after leaving prison. At least 1 in 4 North Carolinians have criminal records that often trigger collateral consequences, limiting their housing and employment opportunities. In fact, about 95 percent of people in prison will eventually return to their communities.

Lieutenant Colonel Donna Carter is the first female to achieve her current rank in the NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP). She joined the Patrol in 1997 as a recruit in the 98th Basic Patrol School, where she graduated alongside two other women cadets.  After graduating from college, Lt. Col. Carter started her professional career as a physical education teacher.  She noticed the professionalism of troopers at events such as the NC State Fair and was drawn to this challenging career path to see if she could persevere the difficult basic training.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill on March 11 requiring all schools to offer in-person learning. After more than a year of virtual instruction for most in the state, students will be back in the classrooms very soon. That means more school buses will be back on the road. Let’s do a quick review of school bus safety to be safe and ready when they hit the roads. When to stop Two-lane roadway – All traffic from both directions must stop Two-lane with a center turning lane – All traffic from both directions must stop Four-lane roadway – All traffic from both directions must stop

Few would call the field of law enforcement an easy career path to follow. Being a police officer has always had its challenges, but for many women in years past, just getting on the force in a profession so heavily dominated by men was daunting. Societal changes have seen more and more female officers enter police ranks in recent years. That is a positive trend. However, the women who were the first to serve at their departments and who convinced sometimes skeptical brother officers they could hold their own still deserve our thanks.

This time of the year, many North Carolinians are preparing their flowerbeds and gardens for the spring showers that will help the flowers and vegetables grow. As beautiful as spring is in North Carolina, it is also the most active season for severe weather like thunderstorms and tornados. In addition to working on their gardens, North Carolinians are also encouraged to be proactive and prepare for severe weather 

For Women’s History Month, the Department of Public Safety is spotlighting employees who have gone above and beyond – either through their job or in their free time – to support safety and healing in their communities. Find more inspiring stories here.

For Black History Month, the Department of Public Safety is spotlighting employees who have gone above and beyond – either through their job or in their free time – to support COVID-19 safety and healing in their communities. Find more inspiring stories here.

Tangi Jordan doesn’t know why she stopped her car in the rain and cold Feb. 18 morning on her way to work at the Lenoir Youth Development Center in Kinston. She just saw someone who needed help. The facility director noticed several cars pulled off on the side of the road near State Highway 11 as she drove from her home in Winterville toward Greenville and Kinston. Jordan initially thought an accident had occurred but then she saw a large elderly man lying on the ground and a group of women near him. 

For Black History Month, the Department of Public Safety is spotlighting employees who have gone above and beyond – either through their job or in their free time – to support COVID-19 safety and healing in their communities. Find more inspiring stories here. Director of Business Systems and Reporting Julendia Gaillard joined NCORR about 18 months ago as the next step in a career that includes more than 40 years of IT development, management and teaching.

For Black History Month, the Department of Public Safety is spotlighting employees who have gone above and beyond – either through their job or in their free time – to support COVID-19 safety and healing in their communities. Find more inspiring stories here.

COVID-19 has brought many changes to our lifestyles, including our work environments. Many workplaces have seen a rise in employees working remotely and using virtual meeting tools. Not surprisingly, users of the online meeting platform Zoom increased from 10 million in December 2019 to 300 million in April 2020 as pandemic restrictions were beginning in the United States. 

For Black History Month, the Department of Public Safety is spotlighting employees who have gone above and beyond – either through their job or in their free time – to support COVID-19 safety and healing in their communities. Find more inspiring stories here.

Before it happens to you, nobody wants to think about the scary prospect of a missing child, parent or loved one. We’re hesitant to think about it, but one of the first steps in successfully coping with such a dire situation is to prepare mentally for such a possibility by knowing what law enforcement and other resources are available to identify and recover missing persons. 

While juvenile crime in North Carolina continues to trend downward, an alarming new trend was identified last year: juveniles being charged with firearm crimes. According to Deputy Secretary for Juvenile Justice William Lassiter, there has been an almost 150 percent increase in youths facing firearm-related crimes. 

As we start a new year, the Department of Public Safety offers some quick and easy tips that will help keep you on track to a safe 2021. Whether online, at home or out and about, please stay informed and stay safe. Be Cyber Smart and Cyber Safe