FY 2010 ANNUAL REPORT

WAKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF DONNIE HARRISON

Wake County Citizens: I am pleased to provide the Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Report of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. During the past year, citizens continued to experience difficult and uncertain economic times. Wake County is no different. Despite a $1,322,015 cut from our budget, I made sure that we continued to provide a high level of service to the citizens of Wake County. I have continued to build on the goals I fulfilled in my first year in office: reduce response time, improve jail operations, create a specialized team for school emergencies and critical incidents, expand the K-9 unit, and implement a Citizens Well-Check Program. Our response time has decreased; the inmate booking process has been expedited; a Special Response Team is on-call 24/7; 13 dogs track suspects, search for drugs, and find

missing persons; and our Well-Check program checks on elderly citizens every day of the year. These actions have resulted in a more efficient use of our resources and increased the safety and security of the public. As you read through this annual report, you may be surprised at how far reaching our responsibilities are. Not only do we patrol your neighborhoods and investigate crimes, but we provide security in the courthouse, manage the Firing Range, register sex offenders, issue gun permits, and serve civil papers. The list doesn’t end there as we are the “keepers” of the jail, processing over 35,000 inmates each year, and also partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to manage the 287(g) program, which checks the legal status of each person arrested and brought to our jail.

From serving our children with the summer Law Enforcement Adventure Camp to looking after some of our most fragile citizens with the award-winning Citizens Well-Check Program, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office believes that Wake County citizens are the purpose of our work, not an interruption of our day. We continually strive to improve this office so we can better serve and protect you—the citizens of Wake County.

Sincerely,

Serving the Citizens is a Privilege and not a Right; It is and Always will be the Purpose of this Organization.

ADMINISTRATION & BUDGET

665 people filed applications for jobs at the WCSO 65 people were hired in FY 2010. Turnover was only 8.3%.

Race 48.6% Caucasian 48.0% African American 3.3% Other

Gender 70.7% Male 29.3% Female

Budget Highlights

WCSO Personnel

Fiscal Year 2009 Final Budget: $62,695,807 Fiscal Year 2010 Final Budget: $61,373,391 Budget Reduction: $1,322,015

No Raises for Employees

Reduced Supply Purchases

Extended Life of Vehicles to Reduce Fleet Costs

Reduced coverage by Part-Time Deputies at the

Courthouse

Eliminated 5 Civilian Positions

Contracted with a Medical Bill Reviewer to Reduce

Inmate Medical Costs.

Wake County Population Total: 920,307 Wake County Total Sq. Miles: 857 Unincorporated Population: 188,129 Unincorporated Sq. Miles: 403

CRIME

Crime Trends

Investigations

The Sheriff’s Office has 6 divisions that investigate crimes: Property Crimes North & East, Property Crimes South & West, Person Crimes, Juvenile Crimes, Gang-related Crimes, and Fraud-related Crimes.

In FY 2010, there were 4,351 NEW cases assigned to investigators, which do not include cases that remain open from

the previous year. This is a decrease from FY 2009 when 4,731 NEW cases were assigned to investigators. The workload per investigator remains high. Investigators who are assigned cases received an average

of 118 NEW cases in FY 2010.

Over the past 3 years, crime has decreased in the unincorporated areas of Wake County, where the Sheriff’s Office has jurisdiction. UCR Part I Crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, larceny, burglary, motor vehicle theft, aggravated assault, and arson. UCR Part II Crimes include fraud, vandalism, drug violations, DWIs, and disorderly conduct. Between FY 2008 and FY 2010, there has been

a 11.1% decrease in Part 1 Crimes, and a

21.8% decrease in Part 2 Crimes.

WCSO maintains 242 Desktop Computers and 356 Laptop Computers.

CRIME

Special Response Team K-9 Unit

Drugs & Vice Unit and IMPACT Team

The Special Response Team is a highly trained and specially equipped unit that handles dangerous and high-risk situations including hostage or barricaded subject situations, high-risk drug raids, arrests and warrant service. In FY 2010, the Special Response Team

conducted 52 Tactical Operations involving Search Warrants, Vehicle Takedowns, Call Outs, and Buy/Busts.

The K-9 Unit, with 13 dogs, patrols Wake County, answers calls for service, and responds to requests from patrol units and other agencies for tracking suspects, missing persons, and locating illicit drugs in vehicles, enclosed structures, and outdoor terrain.

The K-9 unit had 428 deployments in FY 2010 with the following results:

46 Apprehensions

Seized Currency in the amount of $195,595

Seized Drugs with the value of $3,859,415 The Drugs & Vice Unit conducts overt and covert operations and investigates all alleged drug complaints and illicit drug activity. Drugs and Vice also apprehends violators of the NC Controlled Substance Act and investigates other vice offenses such as illegal gambling and prostitution.

The IMPACT Team division is an interdiction team that conducts enforcement operations designed to arrest criminal offenders and suppress a wide variety of criminal activity from street drug sales to traffic violations.

In FY 2010, the Drugs & Vice Unit and IMPACT Team seized over $350,000 in

currency and drugs valued at over $8,500,000.

The Sheriff ’s Office has 445 vehicles and drove 6,413,900 miles using 446,031 gallons of gas.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Community & Security Checks

Calls for Service & Response Time

The Sheriff’s Office received 54,198 Calls for Service in FY 2010, which was about 2,500 fewer calls than in FY 2009. The Response Time to calls for service requiring the dispatch of a Deputy in FY 2010

was 11 minutes and 57 seconds, from time of call to arrival for the highest priority calls. This is the same as FY 2009,

but a faster response time than in FY 2008.

Sheriff Deputies conduct Community Checks by driving through neighborhoods, subdivisions, and business areas to observe suspicious activity. Deputies conducted

34,325 Community Checks in FY 2010. Sheriff Deputies also conduct Security Checks by visually and physically inspecting

the security of a home or business building. Deputies conducted 17,457 Security Checks in FY 2010.

Sheriff Deputies made 1,351 trips to transport mental health patients, taking 5,117 hours.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

School Resource Officers

The School Resource Officer (SRO) Program helps provide a safe atmosphere conducive for learning in the county’s middle and high schools. The SROs work to decrease criminal offenses committed against persons and property, and to enhance overall safety. SROs help students learn not only more about law and the Criminal Justice System, but also familiarize students with law enforcement personnel and their functions. SROs try to establish a close working relationship among law enforcement, students, parents, and faculty. SROs work in 22 middle schools, 2 ninth grade centers, and 1 high school in Wake County.

FY 2010 SRO On-Campus Activity

SROs responded to 1,098 criminal calls on campus.

SROs held 6,335 meetings with students.

SROs responded to 541 fights on campus.

SROs responded to 192 Gang-related incidents on campus.

SROs responded to 107 Drug-related incidents on campus.

SROs assisted with 16 school lockdowns.

The Sheriff ’s Office began using a Child ID Kit, which gives parents fingerprint records for their child. In FY 2010, 56 children participated.

CRIME PREVENTION

Law Enforcement Adventure Camp

Firearms Education and Training Center

The Center, with 4 firing ranges and 2 classrooms, is located in Apex. The Sheriff’s Office contracts with Range Safety Management to teach safety classes. 47 classes were taught in FY 2010.

Sheriff Deputies run a week-long Law Enforcement Adventure Camp for rising seventh and eight graders every summer. Campers participate in mock trials, mock crime scenes, K-9 and Special Response Team demonstrations, DWI Awareness/Prevention class, and tours of the Firearms Education and Training Center and the jail. Adventure Camp also offers classes on how to deal with bullies and how to stay out of gangs.

In the summer of 2010, 79 students participated in the camp, up from 61 students in 2009 and 58 students in 2008.

The Crime Prevention Deputy coordinates with 159 Community Watch groups in Wake County, including 21 new groups this year.

CRIME PREVENTION

Citizens Well-Check Program

Project Lifesaver

Seniors or disabled citizens in the free Citizens Well-Check Program receive an automated phone call from the Sheriff’s Office every day to check on them. If the system does not receive a positive response and the Member cannot be reached, the Sheriff’s Office will call the Member’s emergency contact numbers and dispatch a Sheriff Deputy to check on the Member.

In FY 2010, there were an average of 63 Members in the Citizens Well-Check Program.

Project Lifesaver is a free rapid response program that locates people with brain disorders (i.e., Alzheimer’s, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, and Dementia) who wander away from their caregivers. Members enrolled in the program wear a bracelet that contains a battery-operated transmitter that emits a tracking signal. If the member wanders away, the caregiver notifies the Sheriff’s Office. A search and rescue team goes to the wanderer’s area and uses a mobile receiver to pick up the member’s signal, thus locating the person. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office and the Pilot Club of Raleigh co-sponsor the program, with additional donations coming from businesses and individuals in the community.

In FY 2010, there were an average of 33 members, with 5 searches and 2 Member rescues.

Sheriff Deputies provided traffic escorts for 158 funerals in FY 2010.

VEHICLE SAFETY

STOP TEAM

More than half of traffic fatalities on Wake County’s 1,300 miles of roadways occur in the unincorporated area of the county and most of fatalities were impaired drivers. The Sheriff's Office created the first “Sheriff's Traffic Observation Patrol" (STOP) Team in 2005 and the second STOP Team in 2008 to help reduce traffic fatalities on Wake County roadways. The STOP Team has three main goals:

Reduce traffic deaths, injuries and property damage by a significant number and reduce other criminal activity in targeted areas Provide highly visible patrol as a deterrent as well as enforcement tool Enhance enforcement and patrol capability with specialized training

In FY 2010, the STOP Team filed 349 DWI charges, 544 Seat Belt violations, and 3,345 Speeding violations, 110 Misdemeanor Drug

charges, 16 Felony Drug charges, and 198 Other Criminal charges. The STOP Team also arrested 14 fugitives and recovered 6 stolen vehicles.

The Sheriff ’s Office fully implemented the NC AWARE Project. This Project makes all warrants from across the State available to Deputies for the first time.

VEHICLE SAFETY

Boat Team

Traffic Citations

The Boat Team patrols Falls Lake and Shearon Harris Lake every weekend each summer, and responds to water emergencies throughout the year. The Boat Team consists of twenty deputies spread across the entire patrol division, so that at least one member is on-duty at all times. The Sheriff’s Office has 4 boats, which were funded by Progress Energy. The Sheriff’s Office is the primary responding law enforcement agency for the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant, and coordinates evacuation of Shearon Harris Lake in the event of an emergency.

In the summer of 2010, the Boat Team conducted 599 safety inspections, responded to 8 emergency calls,

gave out 34 citations/warnings, and conducted 4 boat tows.

The Sheriff’s Office works hard to ensure the safety of roadways in Wake County. The Patrol Deputies and STOP Team Deputies are responsible for the majority of traffic citations and traffic charges during FY2010. Each traffic citation may contain multiple traffic charges. Types of traffic charges include: speeding, driving while impaired, expired tags, following too closely, reckless driving, littering, and failure to yield.

Sheriff Deputies issued 6,097 traffic citations and 16,384 traffic charges in FY

2010. This is a 10.0% increase in citations and a 16.3% increase in charges from FY 2009.

Sheriff Deputies provide security in 29 courtrooms

in the Wake County Courthouse.

JUDICIAL SERVICES

Pistol & Concealed Carry Permits

Civil Service

The Sheriff’s Office issues Pistol Permits and Concealed Carry Permits to Wake County Residents. All citizens must obtain pistol permits from the Sheriff’s Office for any handguns they purchase. Each Pistol Permit costs

$5.00 and is valid for 5 years. In FY 2010, the Sheriff’s Office issued 15,309 Pistol Permits. This number has

declined from last year’s all-time high of 20,768 Pistol Permits. To possess a concealed handgun in North Carolina, citizens must obtain a Concealed Carry Permit from their local Sheriff’s Office. Each permit costs $80.00 and is valid for 5 years. In FY 2010, the Sheriff’s Office issued

2,755 Concealed Carry Permits. This number has also declined from last year’s all-time high of 3,511 Concealed Carry Permits.

One of the earliest, historical duties of the Sheriff is the service of court papers, often referred to as civil process. The service of civil process in North Carolina is carefully regulated by statute, and statutory law makes it clear that the proper person to serve civil process in North Carolina is the Sheriff and Sheriff's Deputies. There are 3 main categories of papers served by the Sheriff’s Office: Executions, Evictions, and Basic Civil Process. Some of the types of papers in those categories are: Civil Summonses, Magistrate Summonses, Subpoenas, Orders of Garnishment, Writs of Possession for Real and Personal Property, and Tax Warrants.

In FY 2010, the Sheriff’s Office served 7,558 Executions, 6,731Evictions, and 83,944 Basic Civil Papers.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING

The Sheriff’s Office employees attended a collective total of over 34,000 hours of training in FY 2010, at the LETC and Mount Auburn Training Center. Classed included: blood borne pathogens, wellness training, legal update, detention officer academy, technology training, CPR, and combat training. Deputies also train at the Firearms Education and Training Center. The Center contains 4 ranges and 2 classrooms. The Deputies conduct most of their training during business hours, Monday through Friday, since the facility is also used by the public on weeknights

and weekends. In FY 2010, Firing Range instructors conducted over 3,600 hours of training at the Center for Sheriff Office employees.

The Sheriff ’s Office provides the majority of security staff, who work off-duty, every year at the North Carolina State Fair.

The Sheriff’s Office moved from the Mount Auburn Training Center and began using the new state-of-the-art Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC) in April 2010. The 35,000 square foot facility has 3 fifty-student classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a thirty-student classroom, a twenty-four-student computer lab, a driving simulator lab, and a fitness center.

The Sheriff ’s Office operates 3 Detention Facilities with 1,312 inmate beds.

DETENTION

By the Numbers

Every person arrested in Wake County by a local or state law enforcement agency is brought to the John H. Baker, Jr. Public Safety Center in Raleigh. Those arrestees who are admitted to jail will be under the authority of the Sheriff’s Office and will be housed in one of three detention facilities.

The Total Jail Intake rose sharply from 31,847 people in FY 2009 to 35,140 people in FY 2010. However, the Average Daily Jail Population dropped from

1,363 inmates per day in FY 2009 to 1,341 inmates per day in FY 2010. The drop, despite the higher intake numbers, occurred because inmates stayed in the jail

for fewer days. The Average Length of Stay decreased from 24.55 days in FY 2009

to 21.90 days in FY 2010.

The Sheriff ’s Office pays $1.2363 per Inmate Meal and serves an average of 4,169 meals per day.

DETENTION

Transportation

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The Sheriff’s Office Detention Transportation Division is responsible for any inmate transportation needs. These needs include trips between the 3 detention facilities, to the Wake County Courthouse for inmates with court dates, to other county detention facilities, to state prison, and to outside medical facilities.

The Transportation Division made 2,930 state prison, other county jail, and outside medical

facility trips in FY 2010, transporting 3,480 inmates. They also made 8,032 shuttle trips

between the 3 Wake County facilities in FY 2010, transporting 54,548 inmates.

The Sheriff’s Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to implement the 287(g) Program. This agreement allows 287(g) Certified Detention Officers to have authority for immigration enforcement. Every arrestee is screened for citizenship status. Those arrestees determined not to be United States citizens will be processed by Wake County Detention Officers for transfer to ICE. At the conclusion of their time at the Wake County Jail, ICE inmates will be transferred to ICE, which may then begin federal deportation proceedings.

The Sheriff’s Office transferred 1,979 inmates into ICE custody during FY 2010. Those inmates

stayed a combined 3,283 days in the Wake County Jail awaiting ICE transfer to another facility.

Wake County Sheriff ’s Office 919-856-6911

www..wakegov.com/sheriff