N.C. Department of Correction--Correction News--July 1998

DAPP conference a success

FAYETTEVILLE — A conference can't get much better when you've got Boston Celtic basketball star M.L. Carr doing the electric slide in the middle of a crowd of probation and parole officers dancing to the live music of the Embers.

Robert Guy, M.L. Carr, Roselyn Powell and Ted East

"This was all about teamwork," Division of Adult Probation and Parole Director Robert Guy said about the dancing at the fourth annual N.C. Probation and Parole Association Conference. "There was standing room only at the opening session, and 450 people showed up for the closing session. The overwhelming attendance shows that morale is high in the division." President of the NCPPA, Chester Wiggins, agreed, saying, "People said these were the best workshops we ever had. Thanks go to the chairman, Billie Jo Atkins, and other committee members for setting up such a nice conference." Correction Secretary Mack Jarvis, Fayetteville Mayor J.L. Dawkins and Sheriff Moose Butler kicked off the three-day conference starting June 10.

Thursday morning, while conference-goers were in sessions on topics such as officer safety, community policing and domestic violence, Guy was the guest on a local radio call-in program. The host was very knowledgeable about probation and parole issues and mentioned twice that it was probation/parole and correctional officers week.

Conference-goers heard many pearls of wisdom shared by experts in their fields. Among them was Amy Holloway, executive director of the Interact Program for Wake County, who talked about domestic violence and how probation officers need to learn the triggers for violence.

Another speaker, John Godbolt, administrator for the Safe Schools Program for the Cumberland County School System, talked about preventing potentially assaultive or out-of-control people through physical and verbal skills. He also advised looking over one's desk for potential weapons, to position your desk so that you can always get out and to trust your instincts.

The conference also held the first volleyball and golf tournaments and a pistol match, building team confidence, president Wiggins said.

The husband of former Wake County probation and parole manager, Peggy Biggers, Foy, used to play with the Embers, and sat in with the band on the last few sets.

Meanwhile, M.L. Carr was available for photographs and autographs. u