my PLAN for PROGRESS
We have accomplished much during our third term in office and the work is ongoing. As we head into 2026, we will continue working with all of our criminal justice stakeholders as well as our communities to make certain we are being responsive to their needs, accountable to all, and professional in every way.
Our team has developed a strategic plan for moving forward. At the top of our list is addressing the mental health issues which are being brought to jails and emergency departments across our state and nation. We simply cannot sit back and accept things as they are. Hiring and retention of quality staff will be directly affected by addressing the mental health needs of those confined within our Detention Center. I also feel strongly that we must change the way we recognize and respond to missing and exploited children. The Department of Public Safety has made the Interdiction for the Protection of Children or IPC a priority, and I am too.
Continue to work with our Criminal Justice stakeholders, our design team, and the manager's office in the design and construction of our new Criminal Justice Complex, which will include much needed space for our District Attorney's Office, our Public Defender's Office, our Clerk of Court, Courtrooms, and Sheriff's Office.
Finalize our accreditation process we along with seven other agencies were selected to participate in. The new North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, a program which requires agencies to comply with 115 professional standards covering operational policies, training, and safety protocols.
Train all of our sworn members in, and develop an IPC (Interdiction for the Protection of Children) mindset. IPC is designed to make patrol officers aware of the variety of resources available to assist them in establishing the status of a child who may be missing, exploited, or at risk of exploitation and what courses of action are immediately available.
Address the mental health needs of those housed within our Detention Center, while at the same time understanding that our Detention Officers can also suffer from critical incident exposure, causing them to experience mental health stress as well.
Continue the great work being done as a member of the Opioid Settlement Committee in the Development of a comprehensive approach to addressing our opioid epidemic.
Continue to address the needs of our elderly population with our partners in the Orange County Department on Aging.
Continue to provide our staff with the most up-to-date training.
Continue to strengthen community relations by working hand-in-hand with all of our vibrant communities.
Continue to address the needs of our youth by seizing opportunities to work directly with our Community Centers and their Staff serving as mentors to the youth within their care.
Continue to be available, responsive and accountable to you, as this is "The People's Office."
Work with our Design Team and the Manager's Office to design and construct a much needed secure evidence storage facility.
Continue to work with Orange County Emergency Services and our Consultant to design, build out, and implement a robust countywide radio, records management system, and integrated jail management system, which will allow us to better serve our residents and those who visit and travel through Orange County.
Continue to partner with all of our many Department Directors and their Staff to effectively serve the residents of Orange County.
Continue to work closely with our Federal, State, and Local Partners to insure for the safety of those we are entrusted to serve.
Continue to work with the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association to serve as the statewide voice to protect, promote, preserve, and enhance the Office of Sheriff in North Carolina through education, training, and legislative initiatives that increase the public safety and protect the rights of the citizens of North Carolina.
"I'm always available to speak to you about these or any other initiatives within the Office. I am forever grateful of the trust you have placed in me to serve as your Sheriff." - Sheriff C.S. Blackwood
