North Carolina Department of Correction News - June 1999

News Briefs

Craven’s PERT members practice building-entry techniques with Marines

DOC participates in Career Day at Anson Community College

DOC employees invited to participate in bike ride to raise money for MS

Fountain horticulture program adds beauty to the community

Judicial District 19-B employees promote wellness

New Hanover DCC officers assist police with arrest of drug offenders

DOC participates in the State Tourism Fair

Brown Creek staff members complete HIV/AIDS training

Eleven members of Brown Creek Correctional Institution’s staff completed training to certify as American Red Cross HIV/AIDS instructors. This course, taught by Betty Wojcicki of the Union County Chapter of the American Red Cross, allows those certified to educate inmates and staff members about HIV/AIDS facts as well as myths in a nonjudgmental manner. The following staff members completed this training:

Tommy Andrew, correctional program assistant I; Butch Betts, substance abuse counselor I; Don Bryan, substance abuse program supervisor; James Cohen, correctional program assistant II; Carri Coppedge, correctional program assistant II; Kory Dalrymple, correctional program supervisor; Susanna Jarvis, staff psychologist II; Mickey Lawhon, substance abuse counselor II; Eula Leak, substance abuse counselor I; Clark Ratliffe, correctional program supervisor; and Benjamin Whitlock, chaplain.

Craven’s PERT members practice building-entry techniques with Marines

Members of Craven Correctional Institution’s PERT team were recently invited to take part in a building entry training exercise at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville. The training exercise enabled the PERT members to exchange information with the Marines while learning new building-entry techniques.

After months of preparation and training, the PERT members traveled to Camp Lejeune where they were divided into three different groups. The first group practiced techniques for room to room searches, clearing each room of possible bodies. The second group worked on skills for complete building searches including hallways and multi-level floors, while the third group performed "shoot - don’t shoot" scenarios on a building entry simulation system. All three groups rotated and had the opportunity to practice their skills in all three areas.

At the conclusion of the training, the three groups convened at a live simulation building where everyone was required to enter and clear a building, performing the techniques perfected during the day. While some members ended up getting shot with live simulation rounds containing detergent base paint, Camp Lejeune instructors said that every team did an outstanding job for their first time.

PERT members responsible for organizing the preparations for the training exercise include Sgt. Scott Britton, assistant platoon leader; Robert Wildermuth, sniper; and Daniel Smith, cover officer.

DOC participates in Career Day at Anson Community College

The Department recently participated in Career Day ’99 at Anson Community College. John Ratliff, administrative assistant at Brown Creek Correctional Institution, told students about employment opportunities with the department during the event. The career fair featured 27 booths and was packed with students investigating future employment options.

DOC employees invited to participate in bike ride to raise money for MS

Do you ride a bike? Are you able to walk without problems? When you get up in the morning, are you able to control your body? Imagine if you couldn't.

For people with Multiple Sclerosis performing such simple everyday tasks can be a challenge. But you can do your part to help end the devastating effects of MS by participating in an MS Bike Tour to raise money for research, advocacy, education and local programs for people with MS.

This year, Dan Settle a probation and parole officer with Judicial District 29 in Hendersonville is organizing a team of law enforcement personnel including DOC employees to ride in the Breakaway to the Beach Bike Tour the weekend of September 25 and 26.

Participants will ride from Rockingham to Florence, S.C., on Saturday and then from Florence to Myrtle Beach on Sunday. Rest stops, support vehicles, food and transportation back to Rockingham are all provided.

All DOC employees and their family members are invited to join Settle’s team. Each rider must raise at least $150 in donations and pay an entry fee of $25. All proceeds raised go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Last year, Settle’s team raised $4,000 with only five team members.

If you are interested in riding or would like to contribute, contact Dan Settle at 828-697-4844 ext. 207 or e-mail him at sds08@doc.state.nc.us.

Fountain horticulture program adds beauty to the community

Johnica Ellis, a horticulture instructor with Edgecombe Community College, regularly teaches 15 students in an 11-week horticulture program at Fountain Correctional Center for Women.

Ellis and her students perform beautification projects for the community college four times a year, assist with landscaping at FCCW, maintain the greenhouse operation and hold monthly plant sales. Students enrolled in the program spend 30 hours each week studying and practicing horticulture.

Judicial District 19-B employees promote wellness

Personnel from the Division of Community Corrections’ Judicial District 19-B, encompassing Montgomery, Moore and Randolph counties, recently participated in a wellness workshop and cookout to help promote wellness throughout the district.

Chief Probation and Parole Officers Randy Hussey and Delilah Warner serve as wellness coordinators for the district and helped plan the event. Personnel from the Randolph County Health Department, Randolph County Hospital and Asheboro Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork assisted with the Wellness Workshop by offering blood pressure, grip strength and skin fold testing along with massages and information on nutrition and stress management.

New Hanover DCC officers assist police with arrest of drug offenders

New Hanover probation and parole officers Pam Grissom, Melinda Murrill, David Wishart and Michelle Willis were recently commended by Carolina Beach Police Department Sergeant William Still and Division of Community Corrections Director Robert Lee Guy for their assistance in the investigation and arrest of several drug offenders in Carolina Beach.

Grissom, Murrill, Wishart and Willis assisted detectives during the execution of arrest warrants and searches of targets who at the time were on probation and subject to warrantless searches. As a result of their efforts, contraband was seized and drug offenders who were responsible for the sale of marijuana and prescription medications were taken into custody without incident. The officers also assisted with the transportation and booking after the arrests were made.

Guy told the officers that the tireless hours they spent working with the Carolina Beach Police Department are a profound demonstration of dedication to duty and commitment to community safety.

"The apprehension of the guilty suspects and recovery of drug paraphernalia serves as the ultimate example of community corrections at its best," he said.

DOC participates in the State Tourism Fair

Robin Moore manned a booth at the State Tourism Fair May 5 along with Luther Thomas and Henry McLain of N.C. Correctional Institution for Women.

They talked to hundreds of people about the tourism and rail phone lines manned by the prison's inmates who answer questions and mail packets of requested information.

Moore and Thomas direct the education programs at the prison. McLain, a Department of Commerce employee, manages the Travel and Tourism Information Center.


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