Blog by Gov. Bev Perdue
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is known nationwide as an elite law enforcement agency – and this reputation was earned over more than 80 years of service and dedication to the state. Those who wear the uniform represent honor, dignity, courage and respect. They have been looked upon as role models and leaders for decades.
Today, their reputation is suffering from the misdeeds of a few. The good name of the State Highway Patrol has been dishonored by a few bad apples.
Though we may not like it, the old saying applies here: perception is reality. It’s time to change the perception of the Patrol and reform the Highway Patrol in the image of the trooper’s oath:
On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust.
I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for their actions. I will always uphold the constitution, my community and the agency I serve.
On Wednesday, I joined Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Reuben Young and Highway Patrol Commander Colonel Randy Glover to address all 160 Patrol supervisors from across the state. My message to them was simple – I know that 99.9% of troopers do their jobs with integrity. I know that the majority of the Highway Patrol serves with honor. But from this day forward, there will be zero tolerance for illegal or unethical behavior. If a trooper betrays this oath, he will be dismissed. And I called upon the secretary and the colonel to reorganize the agency to better reflect these goals.
I have laid out four priorities for change in the Highway Patrol:
1) All troopers will go through ethics training and will sign a code of conduct;
2) All supervisors will go through ethics and management training;
3) The Patrol code of conduct and oath will become the litmus test – betray the oath and you will be dismissed; and
4) Within the next 60 days, Sec. Young and Col. Glover will deliver to the governor a plan to restructure Highway Patrol leadership.
My expectations were made clear and I am encouraged that we will be able to restore the luster to the image of the Highway Patrol. These dedicated public servants, who work hard, train hard and put their lives on the line daily for the people of North Carolina, deserve better from their fellow troopers.
Jobs, Jobs and more Jobs
IBM Adds 600 Jobs in RTP
IBM Lender Business Process Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of International Business Machines Corp., will hire 600 workers during the next two years and invest $3.7 million to open a managed business process service center in Research Triangle Park. A state Job Development Investment Grant helped make the project possible.
“IBM has been a major employer in North Carolina providing thousands of skilled jobs for more than 30 years. We value this company’s ongoing commitment to North Carolina and Research Triangle Park,” said Perdue.
For more information about IBM, including employment opportunities, visit www.ibm.com.
Industrial Contractor to Bring 43 Jobs to Pasquotank County
AMARK Corp., an industrial contractor, will expand with a new fabrication facility in Pasquotank County. The company plans to create 43 jobs and invest $1.9 million, including lease payments, during the next three years in Elizabeth City. The project was made possible in part by a $126,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“Creating jobs is my number one priority and North Carolina continues to be attractive to strong, growing industrial service companies,” said Gov. Perdue. “Our skilled workers, custom training programs and top-rated business climate remain top draws for companies nationwide looking for the best location to succeed.”
AMARK Corp., headquartered in Virginia, fabricates steel and pipe for multiple uses in both general and industrial construction applications. The company plans to expand operations into North Carolina by leasing the former Davis Yachts building in Elizabeth City. The currently vacant site will be converted into a fabrication shop to cut, weld and fabricate steel structures as well as miscellaneous metals.
For more information about AMARK Corp., including job opportunities with the company, go to: www.amarkcorp.com.
Air Quality in N.C. Restaurants Improves 89%
Blog by Ruth Petersen MD, MPH, Chronic Disease and Injury Section Chief, Div. of Public Health
North Carolinians are already reaping the benefits of the new smoke-free law for restaurants and bars that went into effect this year.
A recent study shows an 89 percent improvement in air quality in restaurants and bars since implementation of the new law. The dramatic improvement shows the impact of the new law in protecting workers and patrons from tobacco smoke.
The North Carolina Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch uses devices called Personal Aerosol Monitors to assess the air quality in restaurants and bars. The monitors are used to measure the amount of particles smaller than 2.5 micrograms in diameter in the air. These tiny particles, called PM 2.5, are one of the many dangerous components found in tobacco smoke. The particles are drawn into the lungs and are known to cause breathing problems and lung disease, contributing to premature deaths. Between 2009 and 2010, the air quality measured in a sample of restaurants across the state improved by 89 percent.
With approximately 13,000 smoking-related deaths in North Carolina each year, the new law and improved air quality mark significant changes to improve health in our state. Compliance with the new law continues to be strong, with health officials receiving only six complaints for six businesses out of approximately 24,000 by May.
For more information about the smoke-free law, and other issues around secondhand smoke, visit http://www.tobaccopreventionandcontrol.ncdhhs.gov.
