Winter 2023 • 1
Super China Buffet (917) 601-9058 2103 Pyramid Village Blvd Greensboro
Guerrero Restaurant (336) 227-7133 921 S Main Street Graham
2 • North Carolina Police Chief
NORTH CAROLINA
Winter 2023 Volume 7, Number 2
POLICE CHIEF Official Publication for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police
NCACP Organization .............................................................5 Officers, Regional Directors and Past Presidents
President’s Message .............................................................13 Executive Director’s Message..............................................15 North Carolina’s State Capitol Police................................17 Asking the Question: ‘Why?’................................................23 2024 Training Conference Agenda......................................26 Parkland Massacre: Through a Police Chief’s Eyes...........33 N.C. Law Enforcement Accreditation.................................45 Understanding Qualified Immunity...................................47 The Courage to Lead For Everyone....................................55
On the Cover
The North Carolina’s State Capitol Police play a pivotal role in serving one of the state’s higest profile locations.
The North Carolina Police Chief is the official medium of expression for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police and is published by Public Safety Services, LLC. Editorial contributions will be handled with reasonable care; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for the safety of artwork, photographs, or manuscripts. Copyright © 2023, Public Safety Services, LLC. All rights reserved.
Winter 2023 • 3
A&B Family Mart & Tobacco
Taqueria Las Chicanitas (910) 298-4569 711 E Main Street Beulaville
252.259.3660 899 Carolina Ave, Washington
Phoenix Computer Services 400-C E Main St, Cherryville 704.435.0777
MI PUEBLITO
Lucky's Saloon
(336) 260-9507 1453 Industry Drive Burlington
704.482.5155 213 W Warren St, Shelby
Vape Escape
Oj’s Tobacco & Vape
(919) 234-0787 4105 Davis Dr Morrisville412
(910) 324-2385
8900 Richlands Hwy, Richlands
4 • North Carolina Police Chief
Officers
Immediate Past President
First Vice President
Secretary
Chief Damon Williams N.C. Central P.D. Damon.Williams@nccu.edu
Chief Henry King Edenton P.D. henry.king@edenton.nc.gov
Chief Toby Harrison Haw River tharrison@townofhawriver.com
President
Second Vice President
Sgt.-At-Arms
Chief Blair Myhand Hendersonville P.D. bmyhand@hvinc.gov
Chief Roger “Chip” Hawley N.C. State Capitol Police chip.hawley@ncps.gov
Chief Paul Burdette, Jr. Beaufort P.D. p.burdette@beaufortnc.org
Winter 2023 • 5
Kim Anh Oriental Market (919) 954-2139
3901 Capital Blvd, Ste 159
Phoenix Computer Services
400-C E Main St, Cherryville 704.435.0777
Tienda Mexicana La Princesa (910) 575-5468 7026 Beach Drive, Unit 1 Ocean Isle Beach
Azteca Mexican Restaurant (704) 866-7574
1863 W Franklin Street Gastonia
Brown Derby Pub (401) 742-9235 1940 Wilmington Hwy Jacksonville
Hem of His Garment El Restaurante Ixtapa
162 Exchange Park Lane Hillsborough | 919.644.6944 6 • North Carolina Police Chief
(910) 340-7106 724 West Corbett Avenue Swansboro
Regional Directors Region I
Region VII
Chief Chris Beddingfield Biltmore Forest P.D. cbeddingfield@biltmoreforest.org
Chief Jason Armstrong Apex P.D. jason.armstrong@apexnc.org
Region II
Chief Reed Baer Hickory P.D. rbaer@hickorync.gov
Region III Vacant
Region IV
Chief Mark Cook Granite Quarry P.D. Mcook@granitequarrync.gov
Region VIII
Region V
Chief Jimmy Crayton Wallace P.D. jcrayton@wallacenc.gov
Region VI
Chief Orlando Rosario Stantonsburg P.D. chief@stantonsburgpd.com
Chief Mitch McKinney Mebane P.D. mmckinney@mebanepd.com Chief Jeremy Dixon Holden Beach P.D. jeremy.dixon@hbtownhall.com
Region IX
Region X
Chief Jeff Ackerman Duck P.D. jackerman@townofduck.com
Winter 2023 • 7
El torito Restaurant of Bladenhoro
Compare Foods 826 S 3rd St, Smithfield (919) 934-4240
La Patrona Mexican American Cuisine (910) 225-2424 113 Railroad St, Bladenboro
(910) 536-1625 2950 W 5th St, Lumberton
Great Western of Hickory 1824 13th Ave Dr, Hickory (828) 328-6303 8 • North Carolina Police Chief
Past NCACP Presidents Chief B. L. Porter Mecklenburg Co PD, 1976-77
Chief Ronald Hansen Fayetteville PD, 1992
Chief Don Fisher Laurel Park PD, 2007
Chief Robert F. Goodwin Raleigh PD, 1978
Chief James K. Festerman Reidsville PD, 1993
Chief John Hodges Hope Mills PD, 2008
Chief Darryl L. Bruesti Wilmington PD, 1979
Chief Vic Orr Mecklenburg Co PD, 1994
Chief Merl Hamilton Concord PD, 2009
Chief C.M. Gilstrap Goldsboro PD, 1980
Chief Gerald Galloway Southern Pines PD, 1995
Chief Tim Ledford Mint Hill PD, 2010
Chief John A. Faircloth High Point PD, 1981
Chief John Crone Washington PD, 1996
Chief Pat Norris Winston Salem State Univ, 2011
Chief B.J. Hamrick Morganton PD, 1982
Chief Jack Conner Spindale PD, 1997
Chief Tim Hayworth Zebulon PD, 2012
Chief Floyd Lucas Hickory PD, 1983
Chief Bob Cansler Concord PD, 1998
Chief John Letteney Apex PD, 2013
Chief Roger Halbert Jacksonville PD, 1984
Chief Tom Moss Garner PD, 1999
Chief Tom Adkins Hickory PD, 2014
Chief C.C. “Buck” Elmore Gastonia PD, 1985
Chief Randall Aragon Lumberton PD, 2000
Chief Bence Hoyle Cornelius PD, 2015
Chief Larry Hesser Hendersonville PD, 1986
Chief Greg Harrington Wake Forest PD, 2001
Chief Robert Hassell Reidsville PD, 2016
Chief Raymond Shelton Burlington PD, 1987
Chief Robert Williams Morganton PD, 2002
Chief Mike Yaniero Jacksonville PD, 2017
Chief Jerry H. Welch Madison PD, 1988
Chief Frank Palombo New Bern PD,2003
Chief Brandon Zuidema Garner PD, 2018
Chief David Fortson Cary PD, 1989
Chief Larry Murdock Thomasville PD, 2004
Chief Dan House Wrightsville Beach PD, 2019
Chief Joe Puett Mooresville PD, 1990
Chief Glen Allen Henderson PD, 2005
Chief David Hess Roxboro P.D.
Chief John Stevens Indian Beach PD, 1991
Chief Tom Younce NC State University PD, 2006
Chief Damon Williams N.C. Central P.D.
Winter 2023 • 9
Taste of China 828-358-6559 2296 N Center St, Hickory
EL PARAISO 1205 16th St NE, Hickory | 828.324.1812
1263 N Bright Leaf Blvd, Smithfield | (919) 989-1120
TIK TOK TOBACCO (332) 201-0315 3127 Garden Road Burlington
La Mejor Bakery Inc. LA BENDICION 206-A W Fleming Dr Morganton | 828-544-5307
10 • North Carolina Police Chief
(336) 992-0002 428 N. Main St, Kernersville
Work with local Law Enforcement Officials representing the North Carolina Police Chief Magazine
-Training -Excellent Compensation -No Weekends -No Overnight Stays -Bonus/Incentives
Please send resume to: John Bodin, Jr. 678-940-4460 jebodinjr@aol.com
Winter 2023 • 11
Mik’s Foods And Spirits 105 S Norwood St, Wallace (910) 285-5600
119 S 7th Ave, Maiden 828 428-8031
Jif-A-Mart 604 N Norwood St, Wallace | 910-6651440
PIZZA CORNER 223 S Norwood St, Wallace 910.552.0045
12 • North Carolina Police Chief
Vape Escape 4105 Davis Dr, Morrisville 919.234.0787
La Cocina #11
(336) 792-6009 4932 S Church Street Burlington
PRESIDENT Blair Myhand
The temperatures are getting cooler and the days shorter. It is remarkable how fast time goes by. It seems like just yesterday I accepted this role as President. Now the year is almost over. Reflection over the last several months make me realize how much we, as an association, have accomplished with your hard work and commitment to making law enforcement better in North Carolina. With your help we were able to usher in several bills important to our members and our agencies. First, we convinced the legislators to make the civilian traffic crash investigators, a local bill initially, a statewide law. Now, everyone is capable of hiring, training, and employing civilians to investigate certain motor vehicle crashes. The passing of this bill means a force multiplier for every municipality in this state. Second, we saw the passing of bills that strengthen penalties for trafficking in fentanyl and other dangerous drugs and for death by distribution. We saw increased penalties for assaults on first responders
and other riot related crimes. We helped defeat proposals sponsored by the PBA pertaining to Giglio and whistleblower protections. Third, your association is tasked with administering a $750,000 grant this year and next to fund performance management/Officer wellness software and programs. More information is coming in the next few months, but with this grant, we will help law enforcement agencies across the state fund the use of software and programs to help you manage performance and track SB300 requirements. This is an exciting opportunity for the association to help so many of you and generate revenue. The administration of this grant will take a lot of work, but the results will be worth it. We continue to encourage our elected state leaders to pass ALPRs on state rights of way. We know how important the passage of this bill is to public safety in our communities. We also continue to support the passage of so called “retirement” bills like the deferment of special
separation allowance. The bill is technically still alive, and we will inform the membership of its status as we learn more. With your help, the NCACP will continue to fight to improve law enforcement in North Carolina. Your Executive Director and your Legislative Counsel work for you every day in Raleigh and in every corner of North Carolina. We are fortunate to have Bill and Fred representing us. Lastly, my term as President is nearing its conclusion. It has been an honor to serve you. I hope I did well in that respect. The leaders following me are ready and capable to continue representing our interests. Thanks again for your support. I’ll see you in Cherokee in January. Stay safe!
Winter 2023 • 13
Ichiban Grill
Mi Veracruz Mexican Restaurant 704-799-0122 | 761 N Main St, Mooresville
(336) 828-5840 3020 @ Gate City Blvd, Greensboro
Pueblo Viejo Mexican Restaurant 370 S Churton St Hillsborough
(910) 324-3682 212 Kinston Hwy Richlands
Clinton’s Body Shop
(910) 353-8223 2535 Commerce Road, Jacksonville 14 • North Carolina Police Chief
Bamboo Asian House
910.325.7873 918 W Corbett Ave, Swansboro
San Jose Mexican Restaurant (910) 862-8111 | 1320 W Broad St, Elizabethtown
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bill Hollingsed
NCACP Executive Director’s Report We began 2023 with our 47th Annual Training Conference in Cherokee. We had a record number of attendees, with 327 registered Chiefs, staff members, and guests. We also saw a record number of Vendors, in which 138 individual companies and businesses had booths in our Exhibit Hall. We received some great feedback on the training topics and the opportunity to once again meet, network, and train with each other. As law enforcement leaders, we witness Police Officers in our own communities and across the country perform acts of valor that give all who wear the uniform the pride and sense of a higher calling to “serve and protect.” We know these events occur daily through the dedication and committed service of law enforcement professionals. While we are confident in the actions of officers when it comes to running toward danger, it is our responsibility as police leaders to provide those in our agencies with the proper training, equipment, safety, and health and wellness support services.
We are also committed to analyzing trends and continually providing updated training to prevent future line-of-duty deaths and to address Officer wellness. I also want to remember those law enforcement officers in North Carolina that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Ensuring that officers return home safely at the end of each shift is a paramount concern for all law enforcement leaders. The NCACP recognizes that one of the tougher challenges facing any police executive is handling a line-of-duty death within a department. In addition to providing training in this area, the Association works closely with COPS and other organizations to assist our Chiefs throughout the state when the unthinkable happens. Providing training is a top priority for the NCACP. We look forward to our January 2024 Conference and we are working and planning to provide the most up-to-date and useful training available to assist our Chiefs and our agencies to meet the demands of our profession. I am proud of the work that
your Board of Directors do on a daily basis and for the leadership that is shown to represent our profession throughout the state. I am also appreciative of Fred Baggett, our Legislative Liaison, for his efforts on behalf of the Association. I also want to thank each of you, as police leaders, for your commitment and dedication to advancing the ideals and high standards of law enforcement to each of your respective communities. I look forward to working with each of you in the coming year. Sincerely, Bill Hollingsed NCACP Executive Director
Winter 2023 • 15
North Shore Golf Club
(910) 459-6851 101 North Shore Dr Sneads Ferry
Plaza Del Mariachi
(910) 333-9640 101 Parkwood Dr Jacksonville
B's Tobacco (252) 525-1330 343 Western Blvd, Jacksonville
16 • North Carolina Police Chief
El Cerro Tacos 741-10 W Corbett Ave Swansboro (910) 788-1815
Hella Tobacco & Vape 606 W Main St, Beulaville (442) 324-1049
Maria’s Mexican Restaurant 5234 South Boulevard, Charlotte | 704.724.3148 PD GROCERY & VAPE 4303 Sawmills School Rd, Granite Falls | 828.310.0338
North Carolina’s State Capitol Police: A New Direction by Steve Sattler Investigator N.C. State Capitol Police There is much to know about the North Carolina State Capitol Police (NCSCP) Department in Raleigh, North Carolina. NCSCP is a division of the Department of Public Safety and was created in 1967. The department is currently under the supervision of Chief R.E. “Chip” Hawley, and has steadily been growing in size and scope. NCSCP is now the third largest police agency in Wake County, the most populated county in the state of North Carolina. NCSCP serves in the high-profile location of downtown Raleigh and has jurisdiction both within the city limits of Raleigh as well as on state property throughout Wake County. Millions of people visit this area each year. According to the North Carolina Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city of Raleigh and Wake County had over 13 million visitors in 2022. NCSCP is responsible for the safety and security of 29 state buildings throughout the city of Raleigh and 508 state owned, leased or maintained locations throughout Wake County which also employ thousands of state employees. NCSCP provides an on-site Executive Protection team at each of the 29 critical government infrastructure sites including the State Capitol, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Revenue, Department of Public Instruction, Lottery Commission, State Archives, Medical Examiner’s Office, State Crime Lab and
the Treasurer’s Office. In addition, NCSCP provides 24/7 site coverage for other key buildings throughout Raleigh. The responsibilities of NCSCP also include dignitary escorts, managing large scale events and crowds, responding to calls for service, investigating crimes involving state property, state buildings and visitors to state property, and crimes within the state prisons. NCSCP has specially equipped and trained officers who are ready to manage large scale crowds. For example, the Mobile Field Force unit that is responsible for responding to these incidents is comprised of 30 FEMA sponsored, trained, and equipped officers. The department has experienced an increase in its growth over the past several years. NCSCP is currently comprised of 102 sworn officers, eight telecommunicators, two administrative staff as well as 32 security guards. The communications center oversees over 800 alarm sites across the state on a 24/7 basis for state owned and leased properties with 288 located in Wake County. The Patrol Divi-
sion, which serves on a 24/7 basis consists of 26 officers. The Patrol Division proactively patrols in marked and unmarked cars the downtown area, the state government complex, and other state-owned property throughout Wake County. This division also handles accident reports, provides escorts, investigates criminal behavior, and builds relationships throughout the community. Due to its location in downtown Raleigh, handling large scale events and securing several high-profile buildings, NCSCP appreciates the importance of maintaining a K-9 unit. NCSCP utilizes two explosives detection/ person-borne certified K-9’s. The K-9 team is certified through the US Police Canine Association and is available to assist throughout the state on a 24/7 basis. The NCSCP also houses a Criminal Investigations Division with two full time investigators with over 30 years experience in criminal investigations. These investigators are subject matter experts regarding North Carolina prisons and also serve as the department’s property and Winter 2023 • 17
Martin’s Automotive
BAREFOOT BREW
(336) 578-2293 2615 N Church St, Burlington
132 Johnson Street, Elizabeth Town (919) 720-5728
Thai Lotus (984) 229-7333
1310 4TH ST, HICKORY 828.324.9993
3450 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 150, Cary KUNGFU TEA (336) 781-3233 5815 Samet Drive,
Iron Athletes Gym 111 E Southerland St. Suite A, Wallace | 910.284.6422 18 • North Carolina Police Chief
Suite 111, High Point
State Capitol Police: A New Direction (continued) evidence custodians. In keeping with the latest training and technology, the Criminal Investigations Division also employs a federally certified crisis/ hostage negotiator and a nationally certified voice stress analyst. NCSCP maintains two firearms instructors, and a tactical medic/ level 2 paramedic instructor. The training the staff is responsible for certifying each officer in CPR and the use of an AED. NCSCP offers a variety of additional services to the public, as well as other law enforcement agencies and their employees. NCSCP has six federally trained instructors in Active Assailant Response with an instructor who has trained over 3000 state employees, civilian civic groups, and nonprofit organizations. This training also includes providing train the trainer training with participants attending from around the country. NCSCP takes pride in the fact that it is one of only four North Carolina agencies to host the active shooter threat instructor training program. The department is committed to providing training at the location as to where it was requested. NCSCP is also able to offer comprehensive site assessments. The department can assist in evaluating current security plans and suggest various site improvements and contingency planning. In its desire to grow along with the community, NCSCP is consistently looking for qualified applicants to be a part of the NCSCP team. NCSCP sponsored its first ever Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) class of cadets in 2022.
Six cadets were sponsored, graduated, and subsequently hired. The success of that endeavor has led to a second BLET class that will commence in September of this year with eight more cadets being sponsored. In its passion for the highest level of professional standards and excellence, and to provide the best possible service to the community and state employees, NCSCP is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). According to CALEA, as of 2023, NCSCP would be one of only four state capitol police agencies in the country to be accredited. In its preparation and planning to keep the community safe in all situations, NCSCP has partnered with FirstNet in providing mobile communications to maintain a reliable nationwide broadband network.
In a large-scale crisis or incident, NCSCP is prepared to utilize this valuable network to establish communication channels to always remain operational. NCSCP will utilize all resources available including its longstanding relationships with local, county, state and federal law enforcement partners. The future of the North Carolina State Capitol Police Department is bright. NCSCP will continue to provide exceptional service taking advantage of its unique and essential location, the growth of both the department and community, maintaining a forward thinking approach, and embracing the ever-expanding responsibilities. This service also reflects the thoroughness and professionalism of the department while never losing site of the agency’s goals of securing state government operations and keeping employees and visitors safe.
Winter 2023 • 19
Nara Japanese Restaurant LLC Piggly Wiggly #86 (910) 285-7504 209 N. Norwood Street Wallace
JC Auto Sales
(910) 665-1665 317 S Norwood Street Wallace
(828) 327-9006 2321 N Center Street Hickory
TGI Vape (929) 446-9111 301 N Marine Blvd Jacksonville
China King
Franco Pizzeria
777 Smoke Shop
Estrella Beauty Salon
(252) 568-2588 5921 Hwy 11 S Pink Hill
(252) 452-7249 7213 Market Street Wilmington
20 • North Carolina Police Chief
(919) 304-4039 1939 S NC Hwy 119 Mebane
(919) 620-6818 3600 N Duke Street Ste 22 Durham
New Saigon International Market (910) 793-9911 831 S Kerr Avenue Wilmington
Soho Bar & Grill La Esmeralda
(336) 786-6003 746 Worth Street Mount Airy
Chios Rotisserie Inc.
301 Vape & Tobacco, Inc.
(919) 773-1066 2656 Timber Drive Garner
(919) 634-9855 301 South Pollock Street Selma
Ibeauty
Baan Thai Kitchen Inc. Inc.
(919) 832-4030 1601 Cross Link Road, Ste 57 Raleigh
(828) 676-2995 1950 Hendersonville Rd Asheville
(336) 648-8999 134 Franklin Street Mount Airy
Posh Nail Spa Garner LLC (919) 740-6159 1241 US 70 Hwy Garner
El Salvador Restaurant (910) 987-1591 155 Bonanza Drive, Ste 105 Fayetteville
Winter 2023 • 21
La Bendicion B&S Body Shop, Inc. (910) 347-4156 1041 Freedom Way Hubert
Tommy's Nail Spa (910) 888-8668 2718-a Bragg Blvd Fayetteville
San Jose Mexican Restaurant (910) 754-9181 | 5051 Main st, Shalotte
DOS AMIGOS 1222 CONOVER BLVD, CONOVER 828.466.1920 22 • North Carolina Police Chief
(910) 523-4965 6774 Market Street Wilmington
Joey O's Brick Oven Pizzeria (910) 575-3322 1637 Seaside Road SW Ocean Isle Beach
Healthsmart Pharmacy 3119 N Oxford St, Claremont 828.459.2149
Marisco’s El Vallartazo 1095 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd NE, Hickory 828.569.2781
Asking the Question: Why? By: Joseph Jenkins MD, JD Co-Founder & CEO Dooable Health May 25, 2020. During the deadliest pandemic in United States history, George Floyd died. All hell broke loose in the nation’s hot spots. Our national media could not stop speculating or supporting the reality of the riots. “Defund the Police,” chanted protesters and some city and state legislators. The “rule of law” seemed to be an anachronism of the past. Innocent police officers across the country were traumatized once again. While you and I may have three critical events in our lifetime, police officers typically face 800. Worse, the memories of these traumatic events repeatedly
trigger the officers as they traverse their jurisdictions. Of all professions, police have the highest suicide rate. Yet communities expect the young to join the force and the established officers to stay. Reality is that recruitment and retention get harder with every trauma. Something must change. October 12, 2022, two Bristol Connecticut police officers were ambushed and assassinated on a fake domestic violence call. A Dooable Health coach living in Bristol alerted us to a “night of respect” for their police. Every porch light, streetlight, and city spotlight used blue lights. To honor its fallen, Bristol turned itself blue, and out of respect for officers everywhere, we immediately changed our police program’s name to Dooable Blue.
Somewhere in between these two tragedies, I met the Chief. At the end of a presentation to the city’s leadership, he approached, “You know, your program will not work for our police as is, but I am interested in this health coaching aspect.” True to his word, he worked with one of Dooable’s certified health coaches for a year and came away impressed. In fact, he had a plan: He asked us to build a program tailored to police and first responders. While honored by his trust, our expertise was medical, helping people change their lifestyles, and reversing chronic disease. While not experienced with the specific challenges of the police life, we wanted to help. e accepted his invitation. Importantly for us all, Captain
Winter 2023 • 23
Harusaki 1449 University Dr, Burlington (336) 586-8686
Taco & Tequila Mexican Restaurant 111 Vandiver Dr Lincolnton (704) 735-0357
Beach Bums Pizza Bar & Grill (910) 886-6346 304 Osprey Point Dr, Sneads Ferry
604 Merrimon Avenue #205 Asheville | ( 336) 785-0807 24 • North Carolina Police Chief
Asking the Question: Why? (continued) Mac Macario retired as long-time trainer and leader of the Raleigh Police Academy as we were weighing how we could make our program relevant to first responders. Through his connection to Dr. BJ Lawson, co-founder of dooable Health, Captain Mac heard about what we were building for the police and dove into helping. Working with Coach Sarah, Captain Macario, and the Chief’s senior leaders, dooable Blue was created. We now had a program for the police designed by police! Dooable Blue is designed for a new generation of police officers who use social media to learn. The program provides officers the tools to cope with the mental health aspects of the law enforcement profession. Officers who are mentally and physically fit reduce use of force, improve citizen/officer encounter satisfaction, increase morale, and reduce sick time. Importantly, it helps departments honor a promise to families to care for officers’ health and reward them at retirement. We launched Blue during the height of the pandemic, primarily in a virtual fashion. Gradually trust was gained, and our regular presence on-site has continued momentum. As the isolation of COVID-19 ended, our in-person “Dooable days” with Coach Jeanine, Coach Thais, and Coach Sarah have created a sense of community. As one officer said, “There are two things true of cops: First, they don’t trust anybody and two, they hate change.” It’s a challenge we gladly embraced because of its importance to the officers themselves and
their communities. And it has worked! Just last month, the First Annual “Fittest First Responders” Games were held pitting Police against Fire. A creation of Coach Sarah, these Games required both teams of volunteers to do specific movement exercise challenges each week for a month. Times were compared and accumulated. The trash talking was not! In the end, Fire was awarded the Games Trophy, which they will proudly display until next year, when Police will try to show the firehose crowd that trash talking is a real motivator. We are pleased to announce that Chapel Hill Police department, led by Chief Celisa Lehew, is joining the Blue team and are excited about their launch. Lastly, did I mention who that Chief was that saw the need and value of a plan designed for police by police? It was Chief Mike Yaniero in Jacksonville, N.C., who knew his
officers needed a kind of support that did not exist. That is the Why Dooable Blue exists today. We’re here. Let us help!
Winter 2023 • 25
26 • North Carolina Police Chief
Winter 2023 • 27
RC Family LLC/ Tropicana Super Market (919) 202-9820 1126 S. Pollock Street, Selma
Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta
Thai House Bistro (336) 843-2258 824 S. Main St. Lexington
(919) 550-3204 12989 US Hwy W Clayton
Roxboro Tobacco (336) 647-4900
Tres Reyes
(828) 263-8933 282 Hwy 105, Boone
Fusion 108
1019 Durham Road
Monte De Rey
10010 Rose Commons Dr
28 • North Carolina Police Chief
(336) 667-3344 1603 Industrial Dr Wilkesboro
Roxboro
(704) 992-0808
Huntersville
Jenkins Millwork
(336) 830-0647 838 S. Main Street Kernersville
Pahautlan Panaderia (919) 358-9269 2000 Avondale Dr Durham
Winter 2023 • 29
Vaulted
Saigon Cuisine Restaurant
(919) 260-0438 524 E William Street, Apex
4205 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro
336.294.9286
Tienda Mexicana 252.568.4551 103 S Front St, Pink Hill
Cherryville Self Storage 300 W Main St Cherryville 704.435.4909
Arandas Mexican Cuisine (919) 362-7363 5460 Apex Peakway, Apex
VIP Tobacco 1204 S Glen Burnie Rd, New Bern 252.631.2232
Radius Pizza & Pub 919.245.0601 112 N Churton St Hillsborough 30 • North Carolina Police Chief
Tienda La Carasta 2925 Richlands Hwy, Ste 2, Jacksonville (910) 968-0006
Winter 2023 • 31
Granite Drug Center 828.396.2144 21 Falls Ave, Granite Falls David’s Jewelers
704.865.6969 3312 Union Rd, Gastonia
NAGANO’S 828.466.7770 1226 Conover Blvd, Conover Tobacco & Vape Hickory
696-954-8154
3204-A S NC 127 Hwy Suite 107, Hickory 828.672.1002
Caputos Pizza
Startown Carpet Coverings
800 S Mountain St, Cherryville 704 802 4582
1120 N NC Hwy 16 Conover 828.464.7983
Burrito Loco
Tokyo Japanese Seafood & Steakhouse
(704) 663-0919 391 East Plaza Dr, Mooresville 32 • North Carolina Police Chief
539 E Plaza Drive Suite V, Mooresville | 336.646.4233
The Parkland Massacre: Through a Police Chief’s Eyes by Tony Pustizzi Chief of Police, Retired Coral Springs, Florida Police Department On February 14, 2018, a former student entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and opened fire, killing 17 innocent people and wounding 17 others. This tragedy was the ninth deadliest mass shooting event in the history of the United States and the third deadliest school massacre at that time. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is a 45-acre campus comprised of 13 buildings. On the day of the shooting, there were 3,200 students and 200 staff members on campus. Stoneman Douglas was consid-
ered one of the safest schools in Florida, located in one of the safest communities in the country. The intent of this article is to help law enforcement administrators prepare for and respond to similar tragedies in their respective communities’ time of need. It focuses on the leadership, training and communication issues that ensued that day as well as on the lessons learned from them. As Retired Four-Star United States Army General Colin Powell said, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” Leadership In most situations, leadership is the key to an operation successfully moving forward. In a
chaotic situation, it is essential. In the case of the Parkland shooting, leadership from the agency responsible for policing that city was non-existent. Most of the intelligence was communicated by the deputy assigned to the school, a 32-year veteran of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office who had worked the last 28 years as a school resource deputy and had been assigned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for nine years before the incident occurred. At the first sound of gunshots, he took a position of cover and remained there for 48 minutes. He then instructed responding deputies to set up a perimeter around the school and stay 500 feet away from the building in which the
Winter 2023 • 33
704.527.6544 215 Exmore St, Charlotte
919.359.2288 10125 US Hwy 70 West Clayton
828-294-4499 5601 Bethel Church Rd Hickory
828-258-6951 328 New Leicester Hwy #120 Asheville
704.588.1688 2305-A Westinghouse Blvd Charlotte
910.346.5382 109 Henderson Dr, Jacksonville
336.538.0383 1183 University Dr Ste 110, Burlington
704-890-2205 223 River Bend Dr Granite Falls
919.989.1156 1625 W Market St, Smithfield
34 • North Carolina Police Chief
Parkland Massacre (continued)
shooting was occurring. One of the deputies, a sergeant, did not communicate any information over the radio for 11 minutes, nor did he counter the school resource deputy’s instructions. The remaining deputies followed his instructions without question as well. All shots were fired within five minutes, and all victims were shot in under four minutes. During that time, there were seven deputies and a sergeant present. A sheriff’s lieutenant and captain subsequently arrived at the scene, and neither of them questioned the school resource deputy’s instructions. Consequently, the school resource deputy appeared to be the officer in charge. Failures in leadership contributed to the school resource deputy’s inaction. Officers, front-line supervisors and command staff members alike must clearly know their roles and demonstrate proficiency in their
leadership abilities during training. Absent a solid foundation of leadership, especially at the supervisory level, any agency would fail in a high-stress, mass casualty situation. Training The importance of having a fully staffed, fully competent and proactive training unit cannot be overemphasized. Law enforcement leaders must push for realistic scenarios that test officers and supervisors, as well as command staff members, both physically and mentally. The ability to observe their performance during training provides the best opportunity to see how they will perform in real-life situations. Incident Command Structure is a large part of the training and preparation necessary to operate most effectively and efficiently in mass casualty situations.
It was the Incident Command Structure training, along with a close working relationship with the Coral Springs Fire Department, which gave the Coral Springs Police Department a leg up in this situation. For years, both departments participated in active killer response training. They worked diligently to design policies and procedures that would be most effective in triaging and treating victims to save as many lives as possible. The Coral Springs Police Department worked regularly with the fire department on Rescue Task Force training as well. This training contributed to its ability to excel in two critical areas: The officers understood how to respond to an active killer situation using the equipment assigned to them, and they understood how to work with the members of the fire department who entered the buildings with them. Winter 2023 • 35
336.973.6394 1510 Winkler Mill Rd Extension Wilkesboro
828-559-2333 29 Logan St, Marion 36 • North Carolina Police Chief
Parkland Massacre (continued) It also provided an opportunity for the paramedics to gain trust in the officers and feel comfortable entering a warm or hot zone without concern for their safety. According to emergency room physicians, the Coral Springs police officers and firefighters, along with the Broward sheriff’s deputies who entered the school, saved the lives of 17 students with gunshot wounds as well as three additional students with other injuries. They did so due to their ability to triage, treat and extract victims while simultaneously clearing buildings. Possessing the right tools for the job and knowledge of how to use them is imperative. Coral Springs police officers were fully equipped with and trained in the use of bleeding control kits which provided them with the ability to triage the victims inside the buildings and extract them after treating them. All officers had also been issued long guns and breaching tools and were provided with continual training in the use of them. Upon leaving their vehicles and entering the building, each officer had every piece of equipment necessary to manage the threat effectively with them. Incident Command Structure and Rescue Task Force training is vital. The training and evaluation of officers and supervisors in realistic, real-life scenarios is imperative to the successful outcome of a critical incident. They must demonstrate tactical and operational proficiency during training. Furthermore, ensuring officers have, and are trained to use, the equipment necessary to respond
to an incident is essential for operational effectiveness. These factors played a critical role in this tragedy and saved lives. Communication Information and intelligence are two of the most important pieces of knowledge a law enforcement officer can have when responding to a call. This is especially true in the event of a critical incident such as an active killer situation or a mass casualty event. In the case of the Parkland shooting, there were numerous missed opportunities to obtain and share sound intelligence and information related to the shooter as well as catastrophic failures with the radio system the sheriff’s office was using. The city of Parkland is adjacent to the city of Coral Springs. Parkland contracts with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for its police services and with the Coral Springs Fire Department for its fire and medical services. Since approximately 85 percent
of Parkland’s 911 calls were fire and medical related and were made via cell phone, all cell phone calls were routed through the Coral Springs Communication Center, leaving the Broward Sheriff’s Office to receive all land line calls. This arrangement led to communication issues and complicated the response. Additionally, the radios, which are designed to have interoperability, were not able to be patched as quickly as expected. While the system was tested numerous times, human error came into play and delayed the patch for over an hour. During that time, all responding deputies lost communication as the Broward Sheriff’s Office radio system failed. To overcome this obstacle, officers paired with deputies for safety and information purposes as Coral Springs Police Department’s new P25 radio system remained intact and operational. The school resource deputy
Winter 2023 • 37
La Piazza Italian Restaurant (336) 597-5001 35 Abbitt Street Roxboro
Sabor
(980) 256-2622 11112 S. Tryon Street Charlotte
Taste of Brazil Market
919-772-6999 1215 Timber Dr, Garner
(704) 308-6884 10915 Monroe Rd, Ste C Matthews
El Agavero Mexican Restaurant (336) 789-4400 705 Independence Blvd Mount Airy
704.567.2359 4426 E Independence Blvd Charlotte
704.246.6627 3509 Matthews Mint Hill Rd Matthews
38 • North Carolina Police Chief
Parkland Massacre (continued) had both his sheriff’s office and school-assigned radios with him and transmitted there were several shots fired. However, subsequent conversations were contradictory to his first radio transmission and caused responding deputies to take tactical positions along a perimeter instead of entering the school. As responding Coral Springs officers arrived, they tried to glean intelligence from the school resource deputy but found it difficult to ascertain any additional information. Dispatch continued to receive phone calls, and through the testimony of an injured student who was able to escape, was able to provide officers with an idea where the shooter was. This lag in information and the delay in the school resource deputy’s instructions to responding deputies caused a tremendous hindrance in making a timely entrance into the building where the shooting occurred. Lessons Learned Law enforcement leaders must continue to learn from each other’s experiences. Over the course of their careers, most command officers will have the opportunity to attend debriefings and reviews of incidents that have occurred throughout the United States and abroad. In every case, there are lessons to be learned. In evaluating an agency’s preparedness for an active killer situation, one should consider the lessons learned in the Parkland massacre. These elements are paramount to increasing the chance of a successful response in the case of a mass casualty event. • Study and scrutinize every mass
shooting to learn as much information as possible. Mass murderers are continually learning. They learn from each other and evolve and adapt their tactics after each massacre occurs. Furthermore, a killer who is familiar with a school or business may have knowledge of the unique attributes of the building as well as the policies, procedures and developed action plans put in place to deal with an active killer situation. The law enforcement community must learn as well and think before they do. • Develop a clear active killer policy to ensure departmental expectations are fully understood by all staff. Best practice policies communicate what personnel must do, not should do, without leaving any room for misinterpretation. • Ensure officers and deputies are trained in active killer protocols at least annually. • Establish a communication plan. Knowledge of an agency’s radio system capacity and its functionality in the worst-case scenario is crucial. Establish a backup plan in the event of a radio system failure. Have emergency communication channels in place that all jurisdictions can easily access. Ensure they are user-friendly, as the time to look for an active radio channel is before the need to search for an active killer. • Develop an Incident Command Structure training program. While this training is long and arduous, it does work. It lays a foundation of organization and problem-solving that will resurface when needed. • Train with the fire department. Rescue Task Force training is a must. Fire personnel, specifically
paramedics, must be able to get to the wounded as expeditiously as possible, and they should be comfortable doing so behind the manpower and force of weaponry that officers possess. This may need to occur while simultaneously looking for a killer. Training regularly will allow fire personnel to understand law enforcement will protect them as they attempt to save lives in warm or hot zones. • Identify an incident commander to ensure there is no question as to the person in charge. • Ensure officers and deputies are not outgunned. They should have department-issued long guns in their patrol cars, and those assigned to schools should be provided with safes within their buildings in which to store them. • Train and equip officers and deputies with the resources needed to save lives, such as bleeding control kits. They should carry these items on their person. • Ensure that there is a plan in place to provide coverage to the rest of the community through mutual aid or other means. In a situation like a school shooting or mass casualty event, all resources will be tied up for hours, and departments will require additional support for assistance. Update mutual aid agreements to include common sense language that allows for other jurisdictions to assist immediately if a mass casualty event occurs. • Utilize the media spokesperson if you have one. Ensure they are prepared to convey the appropriate messaging and all information is vetted to the best of everyone’s ability. There are times the police chief or sheriff will need to
Winter 2023 • 39
Umami Seafood Restaurant (919) 988-9096 2421 East Ash Street Goldsboro
US Drive Thru Inc (313) 265-0473 101 Workshop Ln, Jacksonville
Taylorsville Tobacco & Vape 851 W Main Ave, Taylorsville | 336.488.0568
Los Tres Mexican Restaurant (919) 367-6797 1301 E. Williams St, Apex 40 • North Carolina Police Chief
Parkland Massacre (continued) personally address the media. However, in many cases the public information officer can speak and provide some room for questions to be followed up later by the agency head. • Consider the length of time to leave officers in specialized positions. If unable to move them around, be sure to provide additional training to ensure they are ready to act in any situation an officer can possibly be involved in. Run realistic training scenarios with all personnel including command staff members. Require their attendance at in-service training to ensure intermediate supervisors and command staff members will lead effectively when necessary. • Do not underestimate the amount of manpower needed to handle a mass casualty event. It is better to have more help than desired than to have less help than needed. Establish strong working relationships with police chiefs and sheriffs from surrounding
jurisdictions to the level that they, along with their command staff, will be available and willing to provide aid. • Update policies regarding self-dispatching to reflect what is expected in the event an officer is close by and can respond to an active killer incident. Most current policies prohibit self-dispatching under normal circumstances. However, some law enforcement personnel will show up on their own to assistance as evident in many recent active killer cases. • Ensure in advance that, in the event of a crisis, the ability to access real-time camera footage within the school system exists. Conclusion In 1999, the Columbine High School shooting caused a paradigm shift in law enforcement’s response to active killer incidents. Waiting for SWAT was no longer an option. The Parkland massacre, as well as the more recent failed
response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, drive that point home. No law enforcement leader wants to send officers on a suicide mission. However, waiting outside for backup officers to arrive on scene cannot happen. The number of mass school shootings continues to trend in the wrong direction. As such, agencies must strive to follow best practices for mass casualty events by identifying strong leaders, providing regular, realistic, scenariobased training, and focusing on increasing interagency communication between all partners before something occurs. They must also be willing to learn from the experiences of those who have unfortunately been involved in the response to such tragedies. Law enforcement administrators must ensure their organizations are prepared by adopting the mindset that, “It can happen here,” because it can.
Winter 2023 • 41
Cancun Mexican Restaurant
Papas & Beer
(336) 584-4494 3152 Garden Road Burlington
704.313.7101 1230 E Dixon Blvd Shelby
(828) 692-9915 1821 Asheville Hwy Hendersonville
Agape Used Auto Mart
(919) 633-9667 945 S Church Street Burlington
3 Reyes 247 East Plaza Dr, Mooresville 980.444.0413
Vemd La Sierra LLC Happy Nails (910) 575-8215
El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant
6278 Beach Drive, Ste 4 Ocean Isle Beach
(336) 226-7237 539 N Church Street, Burlington
(919) 833-1458 2404 Wake Forest Road Raleigh
Tobacco Vape & More (919) 568-0203 1239 S 5th Street Mebane
42 • North Carolina Police Chief
828-263-1111 163 Boone Creek Dr, Boone
Winter 2023 • 43
365 Tobacco & Vape (919) 699-4151 4600 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd S. Durham
44 • North Carolina Police Chief
North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation Program by Karen Ashley NCLEA Program Manager In the last issue of North Carolina Police Chief, I discussed the value of law enforcement accreditation and the different resources available to law enforcement agencies who pursue this certification. Since then, significant progress has been made on North Carolina’s efforts to stand up its own state law enforcement accreditation program. On June 5, 2023, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission approved the 1st edition of the NCLEA Standards Manual and Program Guide, following the previous approval by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission on May 5, 2023. These Commission approvals officially stood up North Carolina’s state law enforcement accreditation program, which includes 116 standards covering critical topic areas such as training functions, personnel, professional standards, and property and evidence, just to name a few. The NCLEA Standards Manual and Program Guide are available and can be accessed on the NCLEA webpage. Agencies desiring to pursue accreditation through NCLEA are encouraged to read both the Standards Manual and Program Guide in their entirety before submitting an application for enrollment. NCLEA is available to all law enforcement agencies at no cost. Currently, 27 agencies have applied for NCLEA certification. Four law enforcement agen-
cies successfully completed the NCLEA Pilot Program in August of 2022. These agencies then demonstrated compliance with the seven standards that were added to the pilot manual. On August 11, 2023, three of those agencies were awarded NCLEA certification by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission at their quarterly meeting. Congratulations to the Roxboro Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, and North Carolina State University Police Department for this achievement. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office will appear before the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission on September 15, 2023, for consideration for their award. The NJDOJ is the recipient of a two-year federal grant that allows us to provide technical assistance to small and rural law enforcement agencies who desire
to pursue accreditation. This grant provides funding to employ part-time Technical Advisors (Mentors) with accreditation expertise to assist agencies to become accredited. If this is something that interests you, please contact the NCLEA Program Manager for more information. We are also seeking interest from law enforcement professionals across our state who desire to serve as an Assessor. Please contact the NCLEA Program Manager directly if you have an interest in this opportunity. Additional accreditation standards will be drafted in the coming months for telecommunications and detention facilities programs. If you or someone in your agency has an interest in serving on an Advisory Group for telecommunications or detention, please contact the NCLEA Program Manager. Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) are needed to draft the standards manuals for our state.
Winter 2023 • 45
Mi Casa Restaurante (336) 276-3003
Los Tres
Mexican Restaurant (919) 544-9247 6905 Fayetteville Road Durham
278 North Talbert Blvd Lexington
209 S Lafayette St, Shelby (704) 419-2291 46 • North Carolina Police Chief
Pho & Poki House (919) 382-0805 2816 Erwin Rd Durham
Understanding Qualified Immunity & Its Role in Officer Decision Making by Lexipol Team - www.lexipol.com Qualified immunity is a widely misunderstood concept—one that often does not become any clearer after reading court decisions granting qualified immunity. Rather than asking the question of whether specific actions would fall under qualified immunity, the focus of law enforcement should be on how to improve safety through better split-second decision making in high-risk situations. How officers make decisions and on what basis is critical — and qualified immunity does not provide the best guide for these decisions. In a recent Lexipol webinar, “Officer Decision Making: Why Qualified Immunity Isn’t a Good Guide,” Chief (Ret.) Mike Ranalli and Laura Scarry explored the intersection of qualified immunity and risk management, outlining what qualified immunity is, reviewing examples from recent cases, and providing tangible takeaways for officer decision making and safety.
“A controversy is that many advocates for police reform believe the doctrine of federal qualified immunity allows members of the law enforcement community to operate in a purported culture of non-accountability. The belief is that, by not holding officers accountable for violations of rights under the constitution or federal law, an environment has been created where police officers believe they can act with impunity.” Next, we need to clear up some common misconceptions about federal qualified immunity and provide a clear definition. Law enforcement personnel are not the only group qualified immunity
applies to — qualified immunity is a defense that is available to all government officials. But what actually is qualified immunity? It is a judicially created doctrine that shields government officials from being held personally liable (for monetary damages under federal law) for constitutional violations. For law enforcement, qualified immunity is often granted in cases pertaining to Fourth Amendment violations such as search and seizure and due process violations. As established in Harlow v. Fitzgerald (457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727 (1982)), under the doctrine of qualified immunity:
Back to the Basics: What Is Qualified Immunity? First, let’s clarify what we’re talking about here — the focus is federal qualified immunity, not state-specific laws regarding qualified immunity. “It is the federal law regarding qualified immunity that has been increasingly scrutinized over the last few years,” says Laura Scarry. Winter 2023 • 47
La Bendicion B&S Body Shop, Inc. (910) 347-4156 1041 Freedom Way Hubert
(910) 523-4965 6774 Market Street Wilmington
Tommy's Nail Spa (910) 888-8668 2718-a Bragg Blvd Fayetteville
Taqueria Las Chicanitas (910) 298-4569 711 E Main Street Beulaville
48 • North Carolina Police Chief
Joey O's Brick Oven Pizzeria (910) 575-3322 1637 Seaside Road SW Ocean Isle Beach
Understanding Qualified Immunity (continued) `Government officials performing discretionary functions generally are shielded from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. For a case to be dismissed on the basis of qualified immunity, courts utilize a two-part test: 1) Did the officer violate a constitutional right? And 2) Was that right clearly established at the time of the incident? If the answer to the first question is “yes,” but the answer to the second is “no,” the officer is granted qualified immunity. But that raises the question, what does it mean for a right to be clearly established? In District of Columbia v. Wesby (138 S.Ct. 577 2018)), the Supreme Court acknowledged it had “not yet decided what precedents, other than its own, would qualify as controlling authority for purposes of qualified immunity,” Scarry explains. Even so, several circuit courts not only look to Supreme Court precedent, but also to cases from their own circuit and cases from other courts exhibiting what is considered to be a “consensus” view of clearly established rights. Understanding the Challenges of Qualified Immunity Since the ruling in Pearson v. Callahan (129 S.Ct. 80 (2009)), courts have been enabled to skip straight to the second question in the twopart test without a detailed review of the facts of the case. This further complicates the question of qualified immunity for officers as the court often declines to expressly state whether an officer’s actions violated a constitutional
right and in what way. This prevents the potentially violated right from ever becoming “clearly established” for the purposes of law enforcement officer decision making. “I’ve been training for 30 years and I like to have answers. I like to know what is allowable, what’s not allowable,” Ranalli says. “I find the Pearson case, and the second prong being answered sometimes without the first one, to be frustrating...So, there are some legitimate concerns about that.” While qualified immunity does account for some of the challenges law enforcement officers face in time-compressed, high-stress encounters, “every case is unique,” Ranalli explains. “They don’t necessarily fit into broad categories, so it can be difficult for an officer, even with clear precedents, to make these split-second decisions.” Because of this, we know qualified immunity to be an inadequate guide at best. Moreover, it’s important for law enforcement professionals not only to adhere to the law, but to consider what course of action is legitimate — both legal and right. Rather than figuring out how to toe the line in encounters based on court rulings that clearly establish some rights but not others, Ranalli and Scarry urge officers to determine how to act in the safest, most professional way possible at every turn. This comes from an understanding of your role as a policing professional and a continued dedication to safety and preservation of life. Split-second decisions are inevitable in law enforcement but reacting in a way that deprives people of their constitutionally approved rights is not—through policy, training and
a focus on legitimacy, officer decision making can properly reflect the values of the profession. Learn more in the on-demand webinar, “Officer Decision Making: Why Qualified Immunity Isn’t a Good Guide.”
Winter 2023 • 49
Nara Japanese Restaurant LLC Piggly Wiggly #86 (910) 285-7504 209 N. Norwood Street Wallace
JC Auto Sales
(910) 665-1665 317 S Norwood Street Wallace
(828) 327-9006 2321 N Center Street Hickory
TGI Vape (929) 446-9111 301 N Marine Blvd Jacksonville
China King
Franco Pizzeria
777 Smoke Shop
Estrella Beauty Salon
(252) 568-2588 5921 Hwy 11 S Pink Hill
(252) 452-7249 7213 Market Street Wilmington
50 • North Carolina Police Chief
(919) 304-4039 1939 S NC Hwy 119 Mebane
(919) 620-6818 3600 N Duke Street Ste 22 Durham
919.567.8989 1029 E Broad St, Fuquay Varina
11100 Monroe Rd, Matthews (704) 841-2025
(919) 934-8889 255-H N. Equity Dr, Smithfield
(919) 938-2220 1267 N. Bright Leaf Blvd, Ste C Smithfield
Winter 2023 • 51
Diamonds - Antique & Estate Jewelry - Pocket Watches
Estate Jewelers Inc Custom Jewelry & Repair CAROL SELF, Owner RSS. 704/736-5266 LARRY GILBERT, Manager
52 • North Carolina Police Chief
P.O. Box 881 218 E. Main St. Lincolnton, NC 28092 BUS. 704/732-1186
Winter 2023 • 53
Santa Lucia Market
Amalfis Pizza 104 N Thornburg Dr Conover 828.464.0807
(336) 903-1731 1100 River St, Wilkesboro
Productos El Chimuelo Wholesale
(336) 639-7270 2310 N Church Street, Burlington
Cancun Mexican Restaurant Don Beto’s Tacos & Tequila (984) 263-0983 36 Flowers Crossroads Clayton
El Patron 323 Smithfield (919) 205-1141 712 E. Market Street Smithfield
54 • North Carolina Police Chief
1092 NC Hwy 210, Sneads Ferry (910) 541-0745
El Paso Morganton 2300 S Sterling St, Morganton 825.433.0007
704.910.0761 6701 N Tryon St, Ste L, Charlotte
The Courage to Lead For Everyone by Bruce Bjorge with www.lexipol.com Captain Vanderhock surveys the transfer with dismay. They’ve sent me the tiniest firefighter I’ve ever seen! She can’t even be 5 feet tall! Her last crew must have pulled a lot of extra weight to make up for what she can’t do. Well, that’s not going to fly here. Arriving at the station, Firefighter Harris sees an unfamiliar face at the kitchen table. Must be the new recruit. Finally! Now we have to think up some great pranks. And I’m not talking bucket-ofwater-down-the-fire-pole. Nope, the game is on. I had to deal with it, and now he’s going, too. Hope you’re tough, Newbie! Do these scenarios strike a chord? Firefighters are passionate about and protective of fire service culture. And that’s a good thing! But too often our efforts are misguided.
We place a high degree of importance on camaraderie, but miss the point that hazing rituals don’t build everyone up—they often leave probies feeling cut down and left out. Our pride in the job commands a high standard of physical fitness, but sometimes that leads us to exclude those who don’t look like the “typical” firefighter—before they even have a chance. Meanwhile, departments across the country struggle to recruit and retain personnel. Lawsuits for harassment and bullying abound. And we burn out otherwise good firefighters—all in the name of “preserving our culture.” So what can we do to ensure we’re preserving the elements that make the fire service great— while cutting out the elements that no longer fit? Embrace a Culture of Success
Instead of embracing a culture of hazing, demeaning people and tearing them down, we should embrace a culture of success. Instead of telling the rookie, “Here’s your toothbrush, go clean the tile floor,” what if we give them a checklist of how to clean the bathroom in a way that meets our expectations? Then, when they’ve done that five or six times in a row, find a way to recognize them. Whatever the benchmark, the key here is to start small, helping firefighters lean more toward success on the big things. Rather than leaving them to figure out everything on their own, spell out the expectations, explain how to do things, hold them accountable and celebrate their early successes. This will build a foundation for mutual trust as the firefighter progresses. If this sounds a bit hokey, think about any exercise class
Winter 2023 • 55
La Costa
(910) 772-9000 3617 Market Street Wilmington
El charro Grande Mexican Restaurant (910) 230-1086 1011 E Cumberland St. Dunn
El Pancito Panaderia Pasteleria Y Paleteria (919) 803-4327 4005 New Bern Avenue, Ste 107 Raleigh
Hibachi China 88 (984) 202-5880 239 Timber Drive Garner
Z&B Tobacco & Vape LLC (910) 769-6662 5111 Market Street Wilmington
56 • North Carolina Police Chief
The Courage to Lead (continued) you’ve taken. When people in the class are focused only on besting one another, it’s not very fun. But when participants encourage one another regardless of ability, it’s a much more positive experience. You’ll likely keep coming back and pushing yourself harder. This strategy applies whether you are a career crew that works together all the time, a combination crew or all-volunteer. In fact, a culture of success may be even more important for volunteer departments. In a low-volume volunteer fire department, it’s easy for firefighters to lose the drive, and it’s difficult to recruit new members. When you get a new volunteer in, it’s a big deal. Make the new person feel welcome. Set clear expectations about what they’re supposed to do. Follow-up to ensure they’re completing the necessary training. We’re long past the days of giving someone their pager and their gear and saying, “Come to the station when it goes off.” Hold them accountable for starting off strong and hold yourself accountable to make sure they do! Career or volunteer, we have to make people feel needed, like they’re part of the organization. Because when you feel included, you take ownership.
Separate bunk rooms, dietary restrictions, the tendency to pick up a device rather than interact— all these threaten the camaraderie that is so essential to high performance on the fire and emergency scene. It’s easy for tenured firefighters to complain about these changes and lament how the fire service has changed. But you can just as easily take steps to actively maintain the culture or bring that culture back—focusing on the positive aspects. Much of this rests on the company officer, but we must all do our part. For instance, I hear over and over that firefighters don’t eat together anymore. Now, not everything about firehouse meals in the past was good! They were often quite unhealthy. But they were also critical for building crew dynamics, helping firefighters process strenuous calls and refueling for the next one. Today, the food we prepare might look a bit
different. We might need to open our minds to new and healthier recipes or prepare several options that meet the needs of everyone on the crew. But we can still come together around the table. The point: If we don’t actively do something to embrace a group identity, we’re all going to be on our devices, eating our own meals, working out on our own. We need to look at what we used to do that was good, hang onto that, and get rid of the bad. Evaluate Prep Efforts The final area where we need to demonstrate the courage to lead for everyone is in the academy. I’m hearing from chiefs whose recruitment problem isn’t getting candidates—it’s that the candidates wash out of basic training. Again, the “weeding out” process has been a part of our culture for a long time. But with departments across the nation understaffed, it’s on us to consider,
Strive to Create a Team Culture Another important aspect of fire service tradition is our team culture. Traditionally, we slept in the same room, used the same bathroom, ate together, etc. Today, that team culture is waning in many departments. Winter 2023 • 57
Goldsboro Empire Fire Mongolian Grill
Rainbow Garden
(919) 751-8889 1209 Berkeley Blvd, Ste A Goldsboro
(910) 814-1706 121 W Cornelius Harnett Blvd Lillington
Tobacco Maxx
(919) 322-2700 710 W Peace Street Raleigh
El Ranchito/ Quintos Corporation (919) 841-8163 3110 New Bern Avenue, Ste 112 Raleigh
Thai Spice (828) 693-7323 220 S. King Street Hendersonville
58 • North Carolina Police Chief
704.735.1181 1411 E Main St, Lincolntown (828) 264-7770 168 Boone Heights Dr, Boone
980.256.2622 1112 S. Tryon St. Charlotte
Winter 2023 • 59
Shinsen Express (828) 651-8888 5601 Hendersonville Rd. Fletcher
El Bronco Mexican Restaurant (828) 891-272 6488 Brevard Road Etowah
Paradise Nails
(828) 505-8383 1829 Hendersonville Road Asheville
Hibachi Buffet (917) 912-9678 3308 Bragg Blvd, Ste 244-A Fayetteville
60 • North Carolina Police Chief
The Courage to Lead (continued)
what are we doing wrong that they’re washing out? For sure, we don’t want to pass people who aren’t competent to be firefighters. But are we clinging to beliefs and practices that are preventing candidates from being successful in the academy? Today, we’re increasingly recruiting people who have never worked on a farm or with machinery. People who have never been up on ladder or operated a chainsaw. We have two choices: We can scoff at these candidates, stressing how different they are from recruits “in our day,” and leave them to figure things out on their own. Or, we can help them succeed by letting them know what to expect. Many departments have had success with groups that help women, specifically, prepare for the physical ability test. Maybe we need to expand that model, give people an opportunity to practice and to understand
what they’re getting into—and underscore that we are here to help them, not to mock them. Other chiefs I’ve talked to have switched their recruiting process to focus on character, finding those people who demonstrate fire service values, then providing all the training needed in the academy. Recruiting is about finding people who can do the job—not the people who know how to do the job right now. What Culture Are We Preserving? The fire service is changing— slower than society as a whole, but surely. As we observe these changes, our reaction is sometimes, “You don’t look like me. You don’t look like a firefighter.” That’s often true—because for so long, we all looked the same! But the future of the fire service lies in a more diverse firefighter—not just in terms of gender
and ethnicity, but in terms of backgrounds, educational levels, body types, and a host of other characteristics. Performance standards are essential. We can’t bend the rules to accommodate anyone. But as leaders, we can choose whether to give them the best opportunity to succeed, to do the job safely and efficiently. Or, we can dig our heels in, insist on treating them the way we were treated, and leave them to “go it alone.” There’s a saying, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.” In the fire service, we sometimes cling to our culture in a way that is actually harmful to that very culture. There is so much to the fire service that is great—we don’t want to undo the great things. But we must also recognize there are things that need to change, evolve and get better. We must have the courage to lead for everyone. Winter 2023 • 61
62 • North Carolina Police Chief
Capone’s Pizza (828) 265-1886 139 Market St, Boone
119 S 7th Ave, Maiden 828 428-8031 Winter 2023 • 63
John’s Precision Auto Body
Steven’s Auto Service
(828) 652-2018 1385 Rutherford Rd Marion
(828) 268-0555 168 Hardin St, Boone
64 • North Carolina Police Chief
Sazon Catracho (919) 938-8178 388B Venture Dr, Smithfield
919.550.8888 957 Town Center Blvd, Clayton 27520
Roseville Grocery (336) 599-6324 3400 Main Street Roxboro
Southern Food Mart (215) 353-8381 1274 Hurdle Mills Rd Roxboro
Winter 2023 • 65
Hibachi Buffet (704) 841-0888 9925 E. Independence Blvd Matthews
AJ’S Auto & Tire
Kobe Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar (919) 938-3200 101 Venture Drive, Smithfield
Taqueria El Paso
(336) 503-8900 405 Old Durham Rd Roxboro
66 • North Carolina Police Chief
(828) 457-1166 2963 Hwy 105, Boone
Winter 2023 • 67
MI PUEBLITO
704.482.5155 213 W Warren St, Shelby
Oj’s Tobacco & Vape (910) 324-2385 8900 Richlands Hwy, Richlands
Taco Fiesta (828) 595-9092 3754 Brevard Road, Ste 108 Horse Shoe
68 • North Carolina Police Chief
Arturo Auto Repair (347) 546-5589 200 W Broad Street Dunn
421 Vapor & Tobacco (910) 292-2201 1006 W Cumberland Street, Ste C Dunn
Seafood Express
Anthony's Pizza & Pasta
(910) 486-5883 936 Brighton Road Fayetteville
(919) 550-3204 12989 US Hwy W Clayton
Tienda Bendicion (910) 431-6348 6774 Market Street Wilmington
Mizu Japanese Restaurant (336) 774-9797 3374 Robinhood Road Winston Salem
Ed Truck
(336) 784-9555 604-A Aureole Street Winston Salem
Paleteria Y Panaderia La Mexicana (919) 322-0150 206 Forest Hills Drive Garner
Twin Dragons Grand Buffet (828) 883-3197 1261 Asheville Hwy Brevard
Octopus Garden (828) 329-1308 1062 Patton Avenue Asheville
King Smoke & Vape 2 (828) 676-0756 330 Rockwood Rd, Unit 107 Arden
Winter 2023 • 69
Super China Buffet (917) 601-9058 2103 Pyramid Village Blvd Greensboro
Guerrero Restaurant (336) 227-7133 921 S Main Street Graham
70 • North Carolina Police Chief
Classified Directory We are pleased to offer our readers this easy reference guide to additional businesses. We urge you to patronize these advertisers, as well as those who have purchased display space in this magazine.
BURLINGTON FOOD MART INC. (336) 227-7050 2109 DURHAM ST, EXT .......... BURLINGTON CARROLLS PETS & GROOMING (910) 739-3211 3537 FAYETTEVILLE ROAD ..... LUMBERTON CIGARS & VAPE FREELAND TOBACCO (210) 812-8206 1030 FREELAND DR....................SALISBURY LA ADELITA TIENDA HISPANA (980) 237-7420 5316 S BLVD, STE B................. CHARLOTTE LA ESPERANZA (336) 955-1825 2532 LEWISVILLE-CLEMMONS RD CLEMMONS LLANTERA PANCHO (704) 772-6766 1940 W FRANKLIN ....................... GASTONIA LOS PRIMOS (336) 955-2002 640 E MONMOUTH ST...... WINSTON SALEM MANANTIAL MEXICAN GRILL (704) 435-6887 1205 SHELBY HWY ................CHERRYVILLE MARTINIZING CLEANERS
(704) 864-9625 143 E FRANKLIN BLVD ............... GASTONIA MR TOBACCO (919) 872-4747 1811 NEW HOPE CHURCH RD ...... RALEIGH MURAISI TOBACCO INC. (999) 999-9999 5087 FAYETTEVILLE ROAD ...... LUMBERTON MY NAILS (704) 852-3030 3278 UNION ROAD ......................GASTONIA PACIFIC SPA (704) 867-6608 3318 UNION ROAD .......................GASTONIA RED APPLE TOBACCO SHOP (336) 875-8680 3793 SAMET DRIVE ................. ..HIGH POINT TOBACCO & VAPE (646) 726-5589 1512 W 5TH STREET ............. WASHINGTON TOBACCO WORLD (336) 223-5000 1222 E DIXIE DRIVE ....................AHSEBORO UNION INSURANCE SERVICES (704) 218-2243 1806 WALKUP AVENUE, STE D ...... MONROE
YESTERDAY’S GALLERIA (910) 238-2542 2770 PINEY GREEN RD ........ JACKSONVILLE
Business Directory In addition to the advertisers who have display and directory space in this issue, these merchants and firms are cooperating to make this magazine a successful and valuable publication. CARNICERIA EL AZTECA CLOUD ZONE 545 EL TIO DOS FANTASY NAILS LUCKUP BURGER & TAP MOCA JOE ONE STOP GROCERY ROYAL EXPRESS SMOKE GEEKS TOBACCO TOBACCO DISCOUNT TRACKSIDE RESTAURANT
Winter 2023 • 71
72 • North Carolina Police Chief
KIM ANH ORIENTAL GROCERIES (704) 532-7509 4421 Central Ave, Charlotte Winter 2023 • 73
Zen Sushi
604 Merrimon Ave #205, Asheville (828) 225-6033 74 • North Carolina Police Chief
Mi Cancun
9605 Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville 919-481-9002