The National Rifle Association (NRA) and Grassroots North Carolina (GNRC) — are on the warpath again over North Carolina’s pistol purchase permit law. We say again because two years ago the two gun advocate organizations tried to repeal our state’s pistol permit law. They contend our system in place since 1919 — that’s been updated — is outdated and should be loosened.

They want North Carolina to replace its Pistol Purchase Permit system (PPP) with the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that’s used by other states. It’s used in North Carolina now when one buys a shotgun or a rifle (long guns), but not handguns.

The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association — Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck is president — and all but three sheriffs out of 100 across the state oppose this because they know it would most assuredly not be in our best interest!

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SANFORD — When the agents of the Drug Enforcement Division of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office initiated what would become a year-long investigation into major cocaine and methamphetamine operations in 2013, they were focused on arrests and winning convictions, not on recognition and winning awards.

But the investigation, which resulted in 25 arrests and the seizure of about $800,000, 15 vehicles, 11,000 grams of cocaine and 8,000 grams of crystal methamphetamine, caught the attention of the N.C. Narcotics Enforcement Officers’ Association, and Lee County agents traveled to Carolina Beach this week to receive the NCNEOA’s Investigation of the Year award.

“It’s awesome,” said Lee County Narcotics Capt. Bryan Allen of the recognition. “It’s a very prestigious award. I’m kind of at a loss for words. I’ve got an awesome group of guys. In my opinion, to be recognized by the NCNEOA for having one of the top cases in North Carolina really says a lot.”

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YORK COUNTY, SC The York County Sheriff’s Office recently extended a helping paw – several of them, actually – to a sheriff’s office in North Carolina.

York County donated two bloodhounds to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office in southeast North Carolina. Star and Missy are 2 1/2 years old and are products of the York sheriff’s office K-9 training program, for which the agency is known nationwide, spokesman Trent Faris said.

“They’re dogs that have been trained by us and we donate them to other law enforcement agencies that are in need of bloodhounds,” he said. “We have seven puppies that are currently being trained that are bred by our other bloodhounds.”

The Brunswick sheriff’s office for several years had two bloodhounds named Bonnie and Clyde, said Deputy Chris Powell, Clyde’s handler.

“We tragically lost Clyde last year in July,” said Powell, a K-9 handler of six years.

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Years ago, when Burt Reynolds was the biggest movie star in the world, he was in the movie “Starting Over.” His character had just gone through a divorce, and a friend urged him to “call me if anything goes wrong.”

His reply: “Can I call you if anything goes right?”

That line came to mind this week while reading about the smartphone app from North Carolina’s chapter of the ACLU. It will allow you to record and automatically submit cellphone videos when you think law enforcement officers do something wrong.

Will it allow us to submit videos when cops do something right?

Some law enforcement officials are wary of the efficacy of such an app, fearing that it might lead to people interfere in what is already a dangerous job. Eddie Caldwell, representative of the N.C. Sheriffs Association, said, “most law enforcement is like that Ivory soap commercial. They’re 99.44 percent pure. They’re not perfect, but they’re close.”

The imperfect ones are the ones most agitated by the app, I’m guessing.

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Scammers pulling off the Grandparent scam have found a new way to get their money. A Charlotte-area senior recently reported paying $26,000 to grandparent scammers using Apple iTunes gift cards, supposedly to bail a grandchild out of jail on DWI charges.

At the scammer’s direction, the grandparent purchased 52 Apple iTunes gift cards over three days, each card loaded with $500. The scammer, still masquerading as the grandchild, got the grandparent to read off the numbers on the back of the cards over the telephone and made off with the money.

Scammers are constantly looking for new methods to update old cons. Traditionally, the grandparent scam asks victims to wire money via Western Union or Moneygram. Now, some scammers have started demanding payment via prepaid credit card, reloadable debit card or gift card

To protect yourself from the grandparent scam and similar frauds:

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Three North Carolina law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty were honored Tuesday at the North Carolina Peace Officers Memorial Day. Among those honored was New Bern’s own Officer Alexander E. Thalmann, who died of a gunshot wound on March 31, 2014.

The annual service was held at New Bern’s Temple Baptist Church at 11 a.m., with members of several enforcement agencies and families of those being honored in attendance.

A memorial wreath was set in front of the stage.

N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper emceed the service and Judge Marion Warren, North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, gave the main address.

New Bern Police Chief Toussaint Summers Jr. welcomed attendees. ”This ceremony provides an opportunity to pause and honor our fallen officers,” he said. “Their sacrifices live on in the form of the lives that are left behind.”

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Raleigh, N.C. — Six companies that provide software for hundreds of Internet sweepstakes cafes in North Carolina have agreed to cease operations in the state, the U.S. Attorney Office announced Wednesday.

Under the agreement with U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker, his office will not prosecute the companies or their principals on condition that they stop operations by July 1.

The companies are:
White Sands Technology LLC – 180 locations
Sierra Software LLC – 175 locations
TNT Software LLC – 40 locations
Digital Reveal LLC – 25 locations
Figure 8 Technologies Inc. – more than 200 locations before selling its software in January 2014.
HSV Entertainment LLC

HSV Entertainment had a lease with the City of Roanoke Rapids to operate the Roanoke Rapids Theater, primarily for concerts and other shows. The company also operated Internet sweepstakes games there. Under the agreement, HSV will terminate its operation of the theater May 18.

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WHEREAS, Congress and the President of the United States have designated a national Peace Officers Memorial Day during Law Enforcement Officers Week; and

WHEREAS, the members of law enforcement agencies of North Carolina play an essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedom of the citizens of our state; and

WHEREAS, members of law enforcement recognize their duty to serve the people of North Carolina by safeguarding life and property, by protecting them against violence and disorder, and by protecting the innocent against deception and the weak against oppression or intimidation; and

WHEREAS, during Law Enforcement Officers Week, and throughout the year, the State of North Carolina recognizes and appreciates the critical contributions and sacrifices made by members of law enforcement at all levels, and honors their courage and dedication;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAT McCRORY, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 4-8, 2015, as “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WEEK” and May 5, 2015, as “PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.

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ASHEVILLE, NC — The Buncombe County sheriff and district attorney announced a new initiative called Operation Blue Note on Friday to crack down on illegal video gaming machines.

During a news conference, Sheriff Van Duncan said machines are back operating illegally after a raid last year in March.

Van Duncan said 20 operators have already been identified and will receive notice by mail in the next two weeks that the gaming machines are illegal. Operators can then voluntarily get rid of the machines or face prosecution.

Because North Carolina’s law has some reference to gaming being legal if there is more skill than luck involved, District Attorney Todd Williams said there have been legal battles that have ended up in the state’s supreme court. However, Williams said he is taking the position that all video gaming machines are illegal in North Carolina.

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NEWTON, N.C. — Recent phone calls claiming to be from the Catawba County Sheriff’ Office’s Warrant Division are a scam to get people to pay unnecessary money, officials said.

Sheriff Coy Reid said somebody called at least two Catawba County residents claiming to be from the sheriff’s warrant division. The caller told residents there were warrants out for their arrests, Reid said Tuesday.

Much like the fake calls from people who claim to be the IRS or a power company, the caller then told the residents the warrants would be taken care of if they paid $2,000 in prepaid debit cards, Reid said. The sheriff’s office doesn’t ever collect money by phone.

Reid said calls to the phone number connected to a voicemail in eastern North Carolina claiming to be the warrant division.

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