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The North Carolina Department of Public Safety family will never forget October 12, 2017. On that day at Pasquotank Correctional Institution, four heroes -- Veronica Darden, Geoffrey Howe, Wendy Shannon and Justin Smith – were viciously assaulted and ultimately lost their lives fulfilling their duties as public servants. We continue to mourn the loss of our fallen colleagues and pray for their families to find strength and courage to face another day without their loved ones. 

The 9th Annual North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM)/East Carolina University (ECU) Hurricane Conference will take place on May 22, 2018. This year’s conference focuses on continuing recovery from Hurricane Matthew, planning for this year’s tropical season, forecasting tools, and severe weather communications. Mike Sprayberry, Director of NCEM, and Jamie Kruse, Director of the ECU Center for Natural Hazards Research, will host the event.

The Highway Patrol has released the names of the two troopers involved in the Friday morning chase and armed confrontation that ended with the suspect’s death. Trooper Douglas Strickland and Trooper Henry Locklear have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the internal and SBI investigations.

Trooper Strickland is a 9-year veteran assigned to Robeson County.

Trooper Locklear is a 12-year veteran assigned to Robeson County.

Clarence N. Godley, food service manager III at Maury Correctional Institution, received the prestigious John R. Larkins Award Jan. 15 during the 2017 State Employees Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in downtown Raleigh. This award is the highest civil rights honor that can be won by a state employee.

As the winter weather approaches, the State Highway Patrol along with the N.C. Department of Transportation are reminding motorists to not leave their vehicles abandoned on the shoulders of public roadways.  For the safety of the traveling public and to ensure plow and salt trucks can effectively work to clear roads, state officials are working together to identify and move abandoned vehicles that are blocking travel lanes or posing an immediate safety hazard.

In anticipation of the incoming winter weather, the Highway Patrol is requesting motorists to use caution when traveling throughout several portions of North Carolina. Driving conditions could possibly deteriorate over the weekend, as snowfall is projected to accumulate due to plunging temperatures. 

Driving Considerations

Nearly 230 law enforcement officers from state, local and federal agencies joined forces this week for Operation Silent Night, an enforcement operation that served outstanding criminal warrants and conducted compliance checks on high risk and violent offenders on probation and parole in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties.  

Significant arrests and accomplishments included:

Nearly 50 law enforcement officers and support staff from state, local and federal agencies joined forces this week for Operation Arrow – Onslow County, an enforcement operation that served outstanding criminal warrants and conducted compliance checks on high risk and violent offenders on probation and parole.  

In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the State Highway Patrol is urging motorists to focus on safety while traveling to their intended destinations.  According to AAA, 43.5 million Americans are expected to take to the roads across the nation, an increase of 1.9 percent over last year.  As the number of vehicles increase on interstates and major thoroughfares, motorists are reminded to use caution while driving. 

Badge of Excellence awards were given to 19 Department of Public Safety employees at a ceremony Nov. 15 held at the State Bureau of Investigations’ auditorium.

“Excellence can mean different things to different people, but to quote John W. Gardner, it means ‘doing ordinary things extraordinarily well,’” said DPS Secretary Frank Perry.