Field Interviews pay off again....

A patrol officer's field interview of a suspicious man has provided detectives with the break that ended a string of burglaries in Greenville.   Corporal B.M. Quick stopped Emmett Lang, 40 years old, about a week ago when Lang was spotted in the area of Stantonsburg road near Memorial Drive.   Cpl. Quick interviewed Lang briefly, and turned him loose.  Quick sent the information gained from the interview to detectives in the Criminal Investigations Bureau.

Detectives from the Property Crimes Unit followed up on the field interview, and have now arrested Emmett Lang on December 18 for (3) counts of felony breaking and entering, (3) counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering, and (2) counts of felony break and entering a coin/currency machine.  

Lang was arrested for the recent commercial break ins that occurred on both November 16^th and again on December 15th at RJ’s Famous Chicken and BBQ located at 2518 S. Memorial Drive.   

Lang was also charged with another commercial break in that occurred at Winners Play Sweepstakes at 1311 W. Arlington Blvd.  

Lang was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond.

Community....

A tip from a good Samaritan helped Greenville police make a swift arrest.

Around 5:30 this morning Greenville communications got a call from someone driving past Cornerstone Church on Allen Street. The caller told dispatchers that someone was in the process of stealing the tires off a car in the parking lot of the church. The caller was able to give a detailed description of the suspect’s car, including a license plate number. Officers were able to trace the license plate number to a James Taylor, 33, of Greenville. They found the stolen tires and rims inside Taylor’s residence. Taylor, a convicted felon, was also in possession of a shotgun.

Taylor was arrested and charged with larceny of motor vehicle parts, possession of stolen goods/property and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was booked in the Pitt County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

This is another great example of community involvement in crime fighting. The citizen’s actions allowed our officers to make a quick and efficient arrest.

Meth mouth...

On November 30, 2013, members of the Greenville Police Department IMPACT Unit conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Charger, displaying a Georgia license plate, near the intersection of Stantonsburg Road and Allen Road for a traffic violation. 

4 pounds:  Crystal Meth

A Greenville Police Department police canine alerted to the odor of narcotics on the vehicle.  A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately four (4) pounds of crystal methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle with an estimated street value of $120,000.00.  Officers believe that the vehicle was traveling through Greenville and destined for another area of North Carolina.

Tierra Ramirez was arrested and charged with numerous conspiracy and trafficking charges and incarcerated in the Pitt County Detention Center under a $400,000.00 secured bond. 

A photograph of the seized narcotics and the defendant is attached.

too cold to go bike at 2 am riding without a ski cap....

At about 2:45 a.m. this morning, Monday November 25, patrol officers from the Field Operations Bureau spotted 16-year old Haseen Branch of Greenville on Clifton Street with two bicycles near the intersection of Evans St. and Arlington Blvd.   Officers stopped Branch to investigate why he was out with two bicycles at such a late hour and in below-freezing weather.

Officers then saw a black book bag about 25 feet away.  Further investigation found the bag contained a pair of bolt cutters, eight ski caps, and a sweater with all the sales tags still affixed.

Officers then spotted 21-year old Debracey Barnes as Barnes was coming out of the Kangaroo store near the intersection.  Upon seeing the police officers, Barnes fled across Arlington Blvd toward Commerce Street. The officers were unable to pursure Barnes, but alerted other officers nearby.

A police dog was called to the scene and backtracked from where the officers encountered Branch to a storage unit behind Gordon's Golf & Ski at 207 E. Arlington Blvd.  The storage unit had been burglarized, and the ski caps and sweater belonged to the business.

Police arrested Haseen Branch, and charged him with one count each of Felony Breaking & Entering, Larceny after Breaking & Entering, Felony Possession of Burglary tools, and Felony Conspiracy.  Branch was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond.

Detectives responded to the call, and after further investigation obtained similar arrest warrants against Debracey Barnes, 21-years old, of Greenville.  Barnes is a repeat offender, well known to law enforcement.  He remained at large this morning.  Anyone with information on Barnes should call Greenville Police at 329-4315. 

citizens in the academy...

The Greenville Police Department completed its 2013 Citizen’s Police Academy on November 11, graduating 16 people.  The Citizen’s Police Academy is an opportunity for City residents to learn about the inner workings of the Police Department and to gain an understanding of police operations.   The academy gives our citizens first-hand information on how and why the Department operates, and it provides an excellent opportunity for the citizens to interact with police officers.

The academy is a ten-week program which provides the community first-hand information on the role of police officers in the Greenville Police Department.  Attendees meet once each week from 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The program involves both classroom and interactive instruction. Participants are given the same information that police recruits and officers receive.

Graduates experience a variety of law Enforcement related topics over a ten week period, such as:

·         Hot Spot Policing

·         Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

·         Community Liaison Program

·         Citizens on Patrol program

·         Forensics (including hands-on latent fingerprint and lifting and analysis)

·         The criminal investigations process

·         Canine Unit demonstrations

·         Animal Control Unit overview

·         Code Enforcement

·         Crisis Intervention Unit

·         Street Crimes Unit and field operations as a patrol officer

·         Narcotics enforcement

·         Traffic Safety Unit (explored the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety

     Commission BAT MOBILE)

·         Real time firearms & drivers safety scenario simulators

·         Ride-along with police officers

The Department will host its next Citizen’s Police Academy in the spring of 2014.  Persons interested in participating may contact the Crime Prevention Unit for more information at 252-329-4339.

that's a lot of prison...

The Greenville Police Department and the Pitt County District Attorney announce the successful trial and conviction of Linwood Earl Duffie on three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony conspiracy.  For these crimes, the 55 year old Duffie will serve between 37 and 48 years in prison.

Duffie was convicted in Pitt County Superior Court for the following offenses:

1.    Wilco-Hess, 612 SW Greenville BV, Greenville, NC on  April 30, 2013 

a.    Robbery with a dangerous weapon

b.    Felony conspiracy

2.    Family Dollar Store, 631 Worthington Road, Winterville NC on April 28, 2013  

a.    Robbery with a dangerous weapon

b.    Felony conspiracy

3.    Emerald City Business Service Sweepstakes, Greenville Blvd, on April 22, 2013 

a.    Robbery with a dangerous weapon

b.    Felony conspiracy

Duffie was arrested on May 21 shortly after committing the armed robbery of a Dollar General in Chocowinity.  In that case, a timely witness provided the suspect vehicle license plate to police. 

After searching the database of a GPD Traffic Safety Unit’s automated license plate reader, officers determined that same suspect vehicle had been seen near Carriage House apartments in April of this year.   Officers and detectives responded to that area and located Duffie’s white Ford Explorer in the parking lot.

Alerted to police, Duffie barricaded himself inside an apartment, which caused Charles Blvd to be closed for several hours while the Greenville Police Emergency Response Team responded.  Duffie was later taken into custody without incident.         

Duffie is a career criminal with a history that dates back to 1977 when he was first charged and convicted of armed robbery as an adult.  Other notable facts include:

·         Over the past 36 years, Duffie has been in and out of the prison system on charges ranging from breaking and entering, drug possession, assault, and armed robbery.

·         He has been arrested at least 25 times from 1977 and 2013

·         Between 1977 and 2013 Duffie has spent 21 years in jails or prison.

Duffie still faces one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon for the Chocowinity crime that occurred on May 21.

Thanks to CrimeStoppers...

With help from Pitt-Greenville CrimeStoppers, the driver of the Ford Mustang involved in a hit & run investigation has been identified.  Late Wednesday afternoon, police identified Jacob Kelly Collins, 20 years old of Burlington, NC as the driver of the car which struck two parked cars at the Pirate Auto Care Center.

Collins was cited for the hit & run violation, and the case is closed pending the outcome of court proceedings.

The Department is grateful to the community for the responses and the information provided which helped solve this matter.

Good police work...

TYPE OF INCIDENT:         Armed Robbery & Arrests                      

Location:                                                      Wyndham Circle at Brownlea Drive

                                               

Case #:                                  13-64017                  

Date / Time:                          September 23, 2013                       1:50 a.m.

Arrested:                               Sacha Lata Gibson                        Alexis Gibson

                                                24 years old                                     19 years old

                                                Greenville                                         Greenville

                                                Jason Earl Moore                           Jeremon Marshall

                                                27 years old                                     25 years old

                                                Greenville                                         Greenville

At about 1:50 a.m. on Monday September 23, Greenville Police officers responded to the report of an armed robbery that occurred near the intersection of Wyndham Circle & Brownlea Drive.  Two women told police they were robbed at gunpoint after they came to the area to meet friends.

Patrol officers from C Platoon surrounded the area and patrolled escape routes.  They soon spotted the suspect vehicle leaving the area on E. Fifth Street and stopped the car on Verdant Drive.  Following a high-risk felony traffic stop, the police officers detained the four persons named above and recovered stolen items, including cash and cell phones.   Police also recovered a 20 gauge shotgun that was believed to have been used in the robbery.

All four suspects are charged with two counts each of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Felony Conspiracy.  They are jailed under a $300,000 secured bond.   Arrest photos are available online from the Pitt County Detention Center.

Victim information will be available through online police reports.  They are not thought to be ECU students.

Bystanders refuse to stand by...

TYPE OF INCIDENT:         Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill,  Inflicting Serious Injury           

Location:                              411 E. Fourth Street

                                               

Case #:                                  13-63815

Date / Time:                          September 22, 2013                       2:20 a.m.

Victim:                                   Rachel Cooper

                                                21 years old

                                                Greenville

Charged:                              Jacob Hollingsworth

                                                23 years old

                                                Westminster, SC                            

At about 2:20 a.m. on Sunday September 22 Greenville Police officers were called to the scene of an assault in the street at 411 E. Fourth Street.   The victim told officers she was walking home from downtown when she was assaulted by an unknown white male armed with a pocket knife.  The victim yelled out for help as she fought the suspect, and several bystanders came to her aid.  The assisting citizens disarmed the suspect. The suspect was knocked unconscious during the struggle. 

The victim sustained serious cuts to her upper body. Her injuries are not life-threatening. She and the suspect were both transported to Vidant Medical Center for treatment.  The victim has been treated and released from the medical center. No additional information on their conditions is available.

Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit and crime scene technicians from the Forensics Unit responded to follow up on the case.  Detectives have charged 23 year old Jacob Hollingsworth with Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill, Inflicting Serious Injury.  He will be served with arrest warrants when he is released from Vidant Medical Center.

The commish...

TYPE OF INCIDENT:         Chief of Police Hassan Aden appointed to CALEA

Commission           

The Greenville Police Department announces the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has appointed Greenville Police Chief Hassan Aden as a commissioner to its governing board. 

The Greenville Police Department has been a nationally accredited law enforcement agency since 1995.  In 2012 the Greenville PD was awarded Accreditation with Advanced status for its adherence to over 300 mandatory professional operating standards as well as 74 voluntary professional standards.

CALEA was established in 1979 to develop professional operating standards for public safety agencies and to administer complementary accreditation processes.  Some of the benefits of these processes include a higher level of public accountability, improved delivery of police services, and the adoption of modern policing methods.   

CALEA Program offerings currently include accreditation for law enforcement agencies, public safety communications and training academies, and most recently, campus security organizations.  These programs serve as a modern management model for public safety agencies on an international basis, and are a blueprint for developing industry recognized best practices.           

CALEA has 21 commission board members, including 11 law enforcement practitioners and 10 members from the public and private sectors.  The position is voluntary and Commissioners are appointed to a term of three years.  Chief Aden’s appointment becomes effective January 1, 2014.

A press release from CALEA is attached to this announcement.T

Upcoming Vigil..

Woman of the year...

The Greenville Police Department is excited to announce that Officer Kolenya Edwards was named “Woman of the Year” at the North Carolina Law Enforcement Women’s Association (NCLEWA) annual conference, held at the NC Justice Academy Training Center in Edneyville, NC September 3-6.

Officer Edwards is a nine-year veteran at Greenville PD.  She is an East Carolina University graduate and holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  She is a native of Roanoke Rapids, NC.

Officer Edwards is currently assigned to the Administrative Services Bureau as Personnel & Recruiting Officer.  She has served in the Field Operations Bureau as a patrol officer, and she served as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Bureau’s Special Victims Unit.  Officer Edwards is a member of the GPD Honor Guard.  She is also a certified NC law enforcement instructor.  Among other things, she teaches self-defense classes for woman.

The NCLEWA is a non-profit organization chartered in 1956, which is dedicated to fostering and maintaining the professionalism of women in law enforcement. 

One of the objectives of the NCLEWA is to strengthen the contributions of women to the field of law enforcement in the state of North Carolina.

The Greenville Police Department congratulates Officer Kolenya Edwards on receiving this award.

Response to gun violence...

This afternoon the Greenville Police Department arrested 21 year old Kayron Monk, also called, “Trey 50,” for the violent assault that occurred Sunday at the intersection of Bradley Street and Kennedy Circle.

Monk is being charged with one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill, Inflicting Serious Injury.  He is jailed at the Pitt County Detention Center under a $200,000 secured bond.  Detectives believe Monk is the person who shot Shelton Arrington multiple times during a dispute.

Also arrested is 23 year old Tiera Blow.  She is being charged with one count of Accessory after the Fact to a Felony.  Detectives believe Blow attempted to deliberately mislead the criminal investigation and hide Blow from law enforcement.

This arrest is a result of the partnership between the Greenville Police Department and the US Marshals, and it part of the department’s concentrated response to violent offenders.

Where there's smoke...

Detectives from the Greenville Police Department are again asking for people with information about suspects in this case to come forward and cooperate with the investigation into the set fire at Gordon’s Golf & Ski. 

Surveillance cameras at the business depict a suspect dressed in dark clothing who throws a combustible item into the front door of the business.  The surveillance video can be found and viewed on Youtube at the following web link:

·     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6NBc_4-7rY&feature=youtu.be

Pitt-Greenville CrimeStoppers will pay a reward for information that leads to an arrest.

On Thursday April 25, 2013 Greenville Police responded to the report of fire at Gordon’s Golf & Ski store on Arlington Blvd.

Further investigation determined the fire to be deliberately set.

Detectives from the Greenville Police Department’s property crimes unit have developed leads in the case, but are asking the public for help with the investigation.

Detectives believe there are people in the community who have information about the suspects, and the detectives are asking these people to come forward and talk about the case.

Pitt-Greenville CrimeStoppers will pay a reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Persons with information about this deliberately set fire should call Detective Charles Walker, at 252-329-4186.  You can also call CrimeStoppers, at 252-758-7777.

Today's news...

On Thursday May 23 at about 9:15 pm Greenville Police responded to the reports of gunfire on the 600 block of Griffin Street.  When officers arrived they found two victims in the street with gunshot wounds.  Both were transported to Vidant medical center.

The first victim was pronounced dead at Vidant medical center.  His name is being withheld pending notification of family members.  The second victim was hospitalized with gunshots wounds to the lower body and legs.  His name is being withheld pending notification to family.

Detectives from the GPD Major Crimes Unit, Gang Unit, and Forensics Unit are on scene, and leads have been developed in the case.  No motives have yet been established.  A neighborhood canvass is being conducted at this hour.  GPD expects to hold the crime scene secured through sunrise to allow a thorough examination of the area.

Anyone with information on this case should call the Greenville Police Department

at  252-329-4315.

Prior arrests...

At about 1:30 a.m. on Thursday May 23 Greenville Police responded to a robbery alarm at the Wilco-Hess service station, 3000 Stantonsburg road.  The clerk told police officers that a suspect came in to the store armed with a knife.  The suspect threatened the clerk and then took cigarettes.

Officers from A-Platoon set up a perimeter, and a police dog began tracking the suspect toward Park West Drive.  The police dog took officers directly to 1285 Park West Drive, where police located the suspect, Michael Wayne Nelson.

Officers recovered stolen cigarettes from the suspect’s apartment, along with the clothes Nelson wore when he committed the robbery.   Detective Stanton from the Major Crimes Unit responded to assist with the investigation.

Nelson was taken to the police department where he was debriefed and processed.   He was then arrested and charged with one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

He was jailed at the Pitt County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond.

Nelson has prior arrests for larceny, burglary, and obtaining property by false pretense.

The thin blue line..

In 1962, President Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event, more commonly known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation's Capital each year.

The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, which is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one in a series of events which includes the Candlelight Vigil.

National Police Week draws in between 25,000 to 40,000 attendees. The attendees come from departments throughout the United States as well as from agencies throughout the world. 

 These events are open to all law enforcement personnel and are an experience unlike any other.  the Greenville Police Department is well represented at this event.  The GPD Honor Guard is there, as are several police officers who annually take their vacations to attend this week-long observance.

One of the highlights of Police Week is the illumination of the the laser during the candle light vigil,...representing the thin blue line.

Greenville Police Officers at Police Memorial Week, 2013

Not again...

October 31, 1975:

What began as a Greenville downtown Halloween celebration turned into a riot.  Eight students and two Greenville Police Officers were injured. 57 other people were arrested.  The event made headlines in North Carolina and Virginia.

An account of the incident from the ECU yearbook, goes like this:   Around 11:00 pm the police attempted to disperse a crowd of about 400 persons.  The crowd had gathered on Cotanche Street, between 4th & 5th streets.  

Chief of Police Glenn Cannon gave the order and the crowd was allowed five minutes  to disperse.  Some witnesses say the order could not be heard by most of the crowd.

The police then deployed a tear gas fogger (seen in the photo above) and tear gas canisters to break up the crowd.  Tear gas was also sprayed in the nightclubs along Cotanche Street, forcing the patrons out and into the streets.

Soon people began throwing rocks and bricks at the police, and some people threw bricks through storefront windows.  Damages to storefronts was estimated at $3,000. The police arrested 27 people for failure to disperse, and 29 others were arrested for inciting a riot.

In the days and weeks following the riot and arrests, there was much discussion about the incident among citizens, the ECU community, the police, and the media.   Many felt the incident was a poor reflection of ECU, but only about half of those arrested were ECU students.  Opinions were mixed and remain so this day.  Some condemned the police as overreacting. Others praised them for taking control of the situation.

Halloweens have changed drastically since those days.  And nobody wants to go back there, again.

Pay off....

Typically, covert surveillance operations do not pay off often.  When they do, it is a wonderful thing from the perspective of the police officer.  Hours and hours of silent watching results in the apprehension of criminal, or in this case, the sure prevention of crime....In an effort to deter and prevent crimes around the university area, Greenville Police Officers have been conducting undercover surveillance operations throughout the university and Tar River neighborhoods, especially after downtown bars close, when many students may be walking in the areas.

On early Sunday May 5,  between 2-3 am,  Officers Simmons and Cates observed a white Ford Crown Vic riding slowly in the area of Summit and East 3rd. St. They observed the vehicle circle the area numerous times, and they began surveillance on it. The officers saw the car  pull up behind students  who were walking in the area and began to stop.  A uniformed GPD officer was contacted to assist and make the traffic stop on 3rd St. near Greene St. 

Upon approach to the vehicle a box of open ammunition was in plain view in the back seat. The driver and passenger were removed from the vehicle and a .22 caliber revolver was located. The weapon was found in between the passenger and drivers seat in the front of the vehicle. 2 pair of thick cloth gloves as well as latex gloves were also located on the dash board. 

Upon identifying the suspects it was determined that the passenger was a convicted felon.  The following suspects were arrested and charged. 

Timothy Terell Jones

Greenville NC 27834

21 yrs old 

charge: Carry Concealed weapon

Jarret Jarmal Gray

Williamston NC 27892

22 yrs old

charges: Possession of Firearm by felon

Identity Theft

CCW

We'll miss you, Fred...

The Police Department is saddened to hear that a long-time friend has passed away. Fred Bazemore was a quiet and gentle soul who for many years came to visit officers in the GPD, and firefighters at Greenville Fire-Rescue. 

Fred would come to the lobby of the GPD almost daily and was always happy to receive gifts from his friends, a dollar or two for some chewing tobacco, or a soft drink. He always had a smile on his face and enjoyed the police and firefighters as his friends.

Fred was a regular customer at Cubbie's Restaurant downtown. He could be found there almost daily. He also knew almost all the employees at City Hall, where he stopped frequently to say hello.

Battalion Chief Tony Smart spoke with Fred’s sister, who said she was very appreciative of the relationship between us all and Fred. He enjoyed the friendships during the 35+ years that he came by the station(s) and the various functions when he was included.

Fred's health began to decline several years ago, and his visits to the Department became less frequent. He passed away on Friday.

Fred, we will miss you.

Fred Bazemore

Nightmare...

It has to be a parent's worst nightmare.   As parents with teenagers in college, we know the possibility exists that we will receive this call.  But under most circumstances we expect a car crash,  possibly a drowning, but who could anticipate impalement?  

Police this morning responded to University Manor apartments to assist EMS regarding an ECU student who fell and was killed by becoming impaled on a metal post.

Detectives from the Greenville Police Major Crimes and Special Victims Unit found from their interviews that the victim and 4 friends were out in the woods behind the apartment complex. They had been drinking alcohol and were hanging out on an overturned tree.  As they were headed back to the apartment complex, the victim was holding on to a branch above him and walking on one below him.  The branch above broke and gave way, with him falling to the ground.  

Below him was a waist-high metal post sticking out of the ground.  The post was apparently there as part of a debris fence that had been in place since the apartment complex was built.  The post impaled the victim from the lower left back to the upper right chest.  

The witnesses attempted to render first aid but were not successful.  Detectives believe the victim died almost instantaneously.

An autopsy will be performed.

It is a parent's worst nightmare.

God's grace...

At about 2:45 a.m on Thursday, January 18, 2007, 4 men entered the duplex at 1312-A East 14th Street.  They were armed with guns and went in to rob one of the occupants who was known to be selling marijuana.

A young man by the name of John Scott Alligood was in there, too.  John was an ECU student.  He was from Washington, NC.   John wasn't selling drugs, but his room-mate  Thomas Harris was.

John was in the living room as the 4 suspects went in.  When the robbers came through the front door John stood up, and as he did so, one of the suspect swung a pistol at him to knock him back down.   The gun fired and John was struck in the chest.   John Alligood died a few days later.

The shooter, a young man named Cam Parker, had already committed at least one other murder by the time he and several associates planned to rob this college dope dealer...

Fast forward to Thursday April 11, 2013:  6 college-aged people are in a house on Cotanche Street.  Around midnight 3 armed suspects burst through the door to rob them of some pot, money, and cell phones...

...by the Grace of God, nobody got killed.

A chilling thing to do...

"The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin," says the newspaper or TV anchor...but really, there is much more to it than that.

One of the most difficult jobs a police officer ever does is to deliver a death notification.  Telling a person their loved one is dead, experiencing that reaction, dealing with the trauma, and answering the inevitable questions are elements to the notification process that no officer who has done this ever forgets.

It is most important that family members hear it from a representative of the official agency, and not from a roundabout source such as the media.

A death notification should be made in person whenever possible, but truth be told sometimes that doesn't work out.  Locating family members in a timely manner can be very difficult, and with our mobile world, family members are often hundreds of miles away.  

When a death notice has to be made in far away jurisdiction, then ideally, the local law enforcement agency would make a proper notification.  Sometimes all a family member gets is a notice to call the police in Greenville NC.

There is no sugarcoating a death message.  The officer delivering such a notice must be clear and straightforward, but compassionate. The officer needs to have detailed information about the incident and be ready to anticipate all manner of questions and emotions.  The officer will stay with a family and assist them to summon other family members, clergy, or offer whatever logistical assistance possible in the situation.

Speaking from experience, it is a chilling thing to tell parents their son is dead: Something an officer never forgets.  It is also a reminder that our profession is one of service and compassion, as much as enforcement.

Doctor's advice...

Time between calls for service is precious time for a police officer.  It affords the officer an opportunity to do things beyond the normal routine, to be proactive and to go beyond the boundaries of the radio calls for service.

Uncommitted time for most patrol officers is dispersed in small snippets--25 minutes here,  15 minutes there, 45 minutes...and no officer can predict how long that time will be available.  So, making the most of uncommitted patrol time is very important to the mission of the Department and to the delivery of quality police services.

This is where the "Koper Curve Principle" comes in.   Dr. Chris Koper is a police scientist at George Mason University.  His Koper Curve Principle says that a police officer who conducts highly visible and active patrolling for 12-16 minutes in one hot spot area can reduce crime in that area for 2 hours afterwards.

The highly visible and active patrol includes police foot patrols, field interviews, bicycle patrols, check points, and other patrols besides just driving through in a patrol car.

Dr. Koper's theory has been proven to work in other cities.  It is being put to use here in Greenville.

When you see Greenville Police officers walking the beat or conducting check points, you will know they are also following the advice of Dr. Koper, doing crime prevention in accordance with the Koper Curve theory.

For more detailed information about Hot Spot Policing, check out this Web Link:   Hot-Spot Policing Put To The Test

Don't blame the road...

The Greenville Police Department has begun a Traffic Safety Initiative which is intended to reduce the number of car crashes in the City, make driving safer, and save lives.

Drivers can soon expect to see public safety announcements warning them of impending traffic safety activities in specific locations where data indicates a high number of vehicle crashes.  These activities are intended to raise public awareness about traffic safety in a positive way.  The announcements will coincide with enforcement of the traffic safety laws, especially along many of the major thoroughfares in Greenville.   The objective of enforcement is to reduce the number of car crashes by gaining voluntary compliance to traffic safety laws.

Among the violations that will be primarily targeted are speeding, turn lane violations, distracted driving, and red light violations. All other traffic laws will be enforced, as well, when violations are observed.

Speeding and inattention are the major causes of most vehicle crashes in Greenville. Rear end collisions, the most common type of car crash, are usually caused by speeding, driver inattention, or by following another car too closely.  Driving through intersections against the red light is a major concern, and a significant factor in car crashes involving injuries.   Turn lane Violations also contribute to a large number of car crashes each year in Greenville.  Using the center turn lane as a travel lane to bypass congested traffic areas creates a big safety risk for other drivers.   

Over the years, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has gathered data on the number of car crashes that occur on highways and streets across the State. 

The Greenville Police Department uses this data, as well as internal crash data, to determine the areas in our city where crashes are more frequent.  As a result of this data analysis, the Greenville Police Department is able to concentrate efforts, including education, public awareness, and enforcement in the locations where vehicle crashes are occurring.

Drivers in Greenville should expect to see a visible increase in traffic safety activities within a few weeks.

Here are the 2012 Top Ten Intersections for Traffic Crashes in Greenville, NC:

2012 Ranking	Intersection	Crashes 2012	Crashes 2011	2-Year Total
1	Arlington Blvd  &  Evans Street	30	16	46
2	Arlington Blvd  &  Red Banks Rd	29	28	57
3	Greenville Blvd &  E. Tenth Street	25	12	37
4	Arlington Blvd  &  Firetower Road	22	16	38
5	Arlington Blvd  &  Stantonsburg Road	20	8	28
6	Charles Blvd  &  Firetower Road	20	10	30
7	S. Evans Street  &  Firetower Road	20	9	29
8	Arlington Blvd  &  Hooker Road	19	15	34
9	Arlington Blvd  &  Dickinson Avenue	17	11	28
10	Arlington Blvd  &  NC Hwy 11 South ( Memorial Dr.)	17	11	28
	Totals	219	136	355

While these areas are where the most crashes occur, they are not the only locations.  Don't blame the roadway.   Drivers have to take responsibility for their driving habits, good or bad.