Holly Springs Councilman gets DWI, will not resign | Durham cancels gunshot surveillance pilot | WCPSS passes Parents' Bill of Rights policy
Holly Springs Councilman gets DWI, will not resign | Durham cancels gunshot surveillance pilot | WCPSS passes Parents' Bill of Rights policy
No. 51 — Dec. 17-23, 2023
Holly Springs Councilman apologizes for DWI, will not resign
Newly installed Holly Springs Town Council member charged with DWI - More to the Story by A.P. Dillon
Holly Springs council member charged with DWI: court records - CBS17
Newly elected Holly Springs councilman arrested on DWI charge near downtown - N&O
Holly Springs town council member charged with DWI after crashing car into woods, docs show - WRAL
Clarence “Chris” Deshazor, a newly elected Holy Springs Council Member, was arrested late Tuesday night and charged with a DWI after crashing his vehicle.
Deshazor, a Democrat, was elected to his first term on the town council this year, earning the most votes in a two-seat election (3,897). Although some Holly Springs citizens including State Rep. Erin Paré (R) have called for Deshazor’s resignation, Deshazor has released a letter indicating that he would be remaining in office:
Chris Deshazor
Holly Springs Town Council Member
December 21, 2023Dear Holly Springs Residents,
I am writing to you today with a heavy heart and profound remorse. Recently, I was involved in a DWI incident, which has rightly raised concerns and disappointment among you, my valued constituents.
First and foremost, I want to apologize unequivocally for being in that situation. I am deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this situation has caused my family and you. As a resident and member of our town council, I have always strived to act in the best interests of our community, and I take full responsibility for my actions.
I believe in the power of redemption and the capacity for individuals to learn from their mistakes. I am dedicated to using this experience to become a better person and a more responsible leader. I plan to turn this situation into an opportunity to advocate for safer roads and responsible behavior in our community.
I humbly ask for your forgiveness and pledge to work tirelessly to regain your trust. My commitment to serving our town remains steadfast, and I am determined to make this right.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you and our community and I am committed to doing better in the future.
Sincerely,
Chris Deshazor
Holly Springs Town Council
Durham cancels ShotSpotter audio surveillance pilot
Crowd at Durham council meeting in favor as city cancels ShotSpotter contract - WRAL
ShotSpotter contract to end in Durham after city council votes against extending it after a year - ABC11
Durham ShotSpotter tech goes offline, city leaders speak out - ABC11
ShotSpotter will go dark in Durham, for now, as city doesn’t extend temporary contract - N&O
Durham County sheriff, former mayor criticize city’s dropping ShotSpotter for now - N&O
Durham Council Opts Out of ShotSpotter, For Now - INDY
The Durham City Council has voted not to extend a contract with ShotSpotter for a gunshot surveillance pilot program. Last year, the council voted spend $200,000 on the one-year program, which covered neighborhoods in east and southeast Durham.
Critics of the program who spoke at this week’s city council meeting included Manju Rajendran, an anti-police activist with Durham Beyond Policing: “ShotSpotter gunshot surveillance has been sold to Black and Brown community members as a false solution to the gun violence and heartbreak that’s hurting our communities.”
I would tend to agree with this sentiment, to some extent. Merely detecting gunshots is unlikely to prevent the killing of “Black and Brown community members” by other “Black and Brown community members”, but I seriously doubt the solutions proposed by the police abolition crowd would be any more effective.
Wake County school board passes policy changes mandated by Parents’ Bill of Rights
Facing a state deadline, Wake schools pass policy to comply with Parents’ Bill of Rights - N&O
Wake County school board approves changes to align with 'Parents' Bill of Rights' - ABC11
Parental Involvement Policy - Wake County Public School System
The Wake County Board of Education has amended it’s Parental Involvement policy to comply with the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” law passed this year by the GOP majority in the NC legislature. As usual, LGBTQ activists still oppose any limitation to the indoctrination of Wake County children, and organizations like Moms for Liberty would prefer the board adopt a stricter policy. (Johnston County adopted a slightly more restrictive policy last month).
Wake County school employee charged with assaulting 9-year-old special needs student
Wake school employee charged with assaulting 9-year-old special education student - N&O
Boy with a disability dragged, hit by East Garner Elementary employee, documents say - ABC11
Tiffany Krystine Ebron, a special programs instructional assistant at East Garner Elementary School, has been charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of assault. Ebron allegedly picked up a disabled student by his feet and dragged him across the floor, causing head pain and carpet burns.
Ebron has been suspended, according to East Garner Elementary’s principal Carmen Graf.
Durham 911 calls go unanswered
Nobody was picking up:' Durham woman calls 911 during emergency, no one answers - WRAL
A Durham woman was reportedly unable to get any response from 911 after calling from Southpoint Mall to get help for an elderly man who had fallen:
"I called 911, and I just stayed there on the phone for at least like 5 minutes," she said. "I was worried that nobody was picking up. so I switched over to the Durham non-emergency number, and no one picked up there either. I switched back to 911, and nobody was picking up at all."
Source: WRAL
This hasn’t been the first complaint of issues with the Durham Emergency Communications Center. One can find numerous stories from the past few years, including:
May 10, 2021: Durham investigating why 911 calls were shifted to Raleigh
June 8, 2021: Durham woman’s 911 call goes unanswered after 60 seconds as operator shortage continues
June 15, 2021: 'Nobody gets a break,' employee says of overworked Durham 911 center
August 10, 2021: Durham victim: 'Four times I dialed 911, they never answered.'
August 19, 2021: Woman tried calling Durham 911 six times to report shooting, demands more from the city
August 24, 2021: 'No response, no nothing:' Durham residents concerned as 911 calls go unanswered
September 1, 2021: Durham mom calls 911 four times with no answer, ends up calling cop friend to radio an ambulance
September 10, 2021: Durham City Councilwoman says she waited 4 minutes, trying to report shooting to 911
October 28, 2021: Durham 911 center's response times improve but still don't meet state standard
February 14, 2022: Durham 911 Center begins assessment to renew accreditation amid staffing shortage
April 29, 2022: Durham 911 call pick-up times improve despite ongoing shortage of call takers
January 4, 2023: Nearly half 911 operational positions are vacant in Durham
Want to get in touch? I appreciate to getting your tips, thoughts, feedback, etc: thisweekinthetriangle@substack.com
Well... Let's get real for a moment. This comment speaks loud and clear, “ShotSpotter gunshot surveillance has been sold to Black and Brown community members as a false solution to the gun violence and heartbreak that’s hurting our communities.” Gun violence is almost always a black or brown perpetuated violent act in our communities. Almost ALWAYS. Considering this system that these communities are clamoring to be rid of, brings the police to the area of the crime, it is no wonder they want it gone. Less police = better opportunity for unhindered crime and violence.