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Statement on Passing of Pasquotank Correctional Officer Helen Mae Smith

ELIZABETH CITY - The staff at the Pasquotank Correctional Institution are mourning the passing of Correctional Officer Helen Mae Smith, who suffered a medical emergency after responding to an offender incident today, Feb. 3.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Smith’s family during this difficult time,” said Secretary of Public Safety Eddie Buffaloe, Jr. “She had a great reputation and was dedicated to her job; this is a huge loss for our DPS family.”

Department of Public Safety Secretary Planning to Retire

Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks today announced his plans to retire from state service on August 1. Governor Roy Cooper appointed Hooks on January 5, 2017, to serve as Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and as the State Homeland Security Advisor. 

Secretary Hooks has more than 30 years of law enforcement and public safety experience. He served 27 years with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in various leadership capacities, rising to the rank of Assistant Director in 2005 before taking on the role of Public Safety Secretary.

Drew Stanley Named North Carolina Warden of the Year

For his extraordinary and proactive efforts to battle the pandemic, the warden at Nash Correctional Institution, Drew Stanley, has been named the warden of the year in North Carolina.

“Drew Stanley has done amazing work over the past year and has truly earned this award,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “He has been visionary, precautionary and effective in keeping the health and safety of his staff and the men in his custody as his top priority.”

Power Restoration Continues as Northern, Triad Counties Recover from Ice Storm

Utility crews continued work Sunday to restore power to about 80,000 customers who were remaining without power after a freezing rain event that toppled trees and power lines in counties along the Virginia border and in the Triad area.

“Utility workers are out in force, working to get everyone’s power restored as quickly as possible,” said Governor Roy Cooper. 

Power outages peaked late Saturday morning with about 194,000 customers without power statewide, and the situation has been improving quickly since then. 

Correction Enterprises’ Moore Recycling Plant Recommended for ‘Gold Standard’ ACA Accreditation

A team of American Correctional Association auditors has recommended accreditation be awarded to the Moore Recycling Plant, a Correction Enterprise operation that recycles license plates and road signs.

The recommendation is a high achievement in what is one of the first steps to full accreditation of the prison system.

Department of Public Safety Recognizes Outstanding Employees with Badge of Excellence Award

The Department of Public Safety recognized its committed and exceptional employees on Sept. 29 during the department’s annual Badge of Excellence Ceremony held at the Joint Force Headquarters.

Trooper Seriously Injured On I-485 In Mecklenburg County

The State Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate a serious collision involving one of its members from today in Charlotte.  On Saturday, July 4, at approximately 8:36 am, Trooper Adolfo A. Lopez-Alcedo was struck while assisting with a follow up collision investigation that occurred the previous day.  As Trooper Lopez-Alcedo was beginning a shutdown of the I-485 Outer Loop near the 21-mile marker, he was struck while outside of his patrol vehicle.

Catawba Correctional Center Offender Escape

State correctional and local law enforcement officers from Newton and the Catawba Sheriff’s Office are seeking Catawba Correctional Center, minimum custody offender Juan McDonald (#1132541), who was reported missing from the facility June 25. McDonald was last seen in the yard at approximately 9 p.m. 

SHP Responds To Slow Driver Protest On I-40

On Wed., June 24 at approximately 8:57 a.m., the State Highway Patrol responded to I-40 in Wake County due to several vehicles traveling at a slow rate of speed near the 298 mile marker. The vehicles in question were traveling at approximately ten miles per hour while blocking all westbound travel lanes to include the emergency lane. 

Troopers responded to the area, stopping the vehicles involved near the 291 mile marker. The drivers of the vehicles in question were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Wake County Jail. 

ALE Investigates Four Shot, Two Killed Inside Illegal Bar

Over the weekend, four individuals were shot, two were killed at an illegal bar in Edgecombe County. 

Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office contacted ALE after the shooting occurred at a residence, 715 East Lashley Street in Pinetops, which operated as an illegal bar. Over 76 liters of malt beverage and almost 30 liters of spirituous liquor were seized from the residence. 

The homeowner, Treesie Shontell Allen, 39, was charged with the possession of alcoholic beverages for sale without the applicable ABC permits.