Blog: DPS Dispatch

Surf City is getting a new town hall with the help of more than $500,000 from North Carolina and the FEMA Public Assistance Program.  

Attending a Department of Public Safety career fair is a wonderful chance for you to learn about employment opportunities within the department. Positions vary from engineers to State Highway Patrol troopers to IT professionals to special agents and many more. DPS has representatives from its divisions to share the various career options available. Before attending, read over our tips to help make the most of your time spent at a DPS career fair.  Dress to impress

Governor Declares March 1-7 Severe Weather Preparedness Week Showers are beginning to help flowers and trees to develop buds, birds are singing early morning songs, and the sound of thunder is rumbling across the sky. Spring is a thing of beauty in North Carolina, but it is also the most active season for tornados and severe thunderstorms.  As you are getting the garden ready for all that will begin to bloom in the next few months, also be thinking severe weather preparedness.   

Do you know how to respond when an emergency happens while in your vehicle?  Driving requires you to be safe and attentive at all times. Many things you encounter on the road are out of your control. Do you know how to respond safely when certain situations happen to your car while driving? Troopers from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol suggest drivers follow the quick tips below to enure they know how to safely navigate emergencies while behind the wheel. Break downs

North Carolina is in the midst of the largest hurricane recovery in the state’s history: In the past four years, North Carolina has received federal disaster declarations for four hurricanes covering 77 of the state’s 100 counties.

There are more than 38,000 people employed by the Department of Public Safety, and they all support the department with their variety of different backgrounds and skillsets. There are engineers, correctional officers, counselors, troopers, IT professionals, maintenance staff and many, many more personnel who dedicate their careers to public service in North Carolina. What is it about DPS that brings so many people together from across the state to prevent, protect and prepare North Carolinians for man-made or natural disasters?  Making a difference

We stretch, hydrate and know our limits to stay safe and prevent injuries while exercising. These aren’t the only ways to remain safe and healthy, though. DPS officials offer the following safety tips when going outside to exercise.  Let someone know where you are going Tell at least one person when and where you will be going. If something happens, they will know where to send help. Bring your cell phone with you. This allows you to call for help in case of an emergency. You can also utilize mobile tracking apps that share your exact location with family and friends.  Bring identification

Findings published last month following a year-long independent study evaluating the food environments of North Carolina’s juvenile justice facilities indicate that staff are invested in the children in their care, meet child nutrition program requirements for all daily meals and feel that their role in promoting child health and wellness is important. 

Storms leave behind big messes and communities need help with clean up. That’s certainly the case on Ocracoke, where several feet of storm surge inundated the island when Hurricane Dorian passed by last September. As residents cleaned out flooded homes, large piles of curbside debris quickly developed all over the island – made up of ruined furniture, soaked drywall and damaged floorboards.  

Your home is your greatest monetary asset and you should take steps to ensure its safety. Good safety measures are habit forming, and law enforcement experts from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety came up with some easy to follow tips for securing your home to help keep it safe. Install a security system with security cameras

It’s not every day that a state or local law enforcement officer gets recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, but that’s just what happened recently to an Alcohol Law Enforcement special agent. As the state observes Human Trafficking Awareness Month this January, the DPS family wants to congratulate ALE Special Agent and Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer (TFO) Bryan Irwin on his selection as a national recipient of the 2019 HSI Outstanding Efforts in Combating Human Trafficking Award.

Ground was broken on the imposing stone fortress known as Central Prison in Raleigh 150 years ago as convicts wielded shovels and chipped granite blocks from a nearby quarry to build its 30-foot walls. It took 14 years to finish the job started on Jan. 6, 1870. Central Prison has been in continuous service since it opened in 1884. The project cost $1.25 million. Much has changed since those simpler, harsher times.

Pilot program working to help those under supervision break drug dependency. The growing misuse of opioid drugs in the United States is well-documented. It can be particularly problematic for individuals who are under probation, parole and post-release supervision.

With winter weather in the forecast, now is the time to prepare. To remain safe during this time, the best thing you can do is not drive on the roads, but if you must, plan ahead and review how to operate your vehicle in winter weather. Prepare Your Vehicle Before you hit the road, it’s a good rule of thumb to prepare your vehicle ahead of time. The lower temperatures can cause tire pressure and battery power to drop and may cause moisture to freeze the gas lines. Check your tire pressure, test your battery and keep your gas tank at least half full.

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.