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Thursday, August 18, 2016
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Thursday, August 18, 2016
Belmont PD hosts Crisis Intervention Team training By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The Belmont Police Department recently hosted a unique and progressive program designed to teach officers techniques useful in defusing potentially volatile situations. Known as Crisis Intervention Team (CUT), the 40-hour, voluntary participation training involves role playing between officers and “subjects” (also law enforcement or mental health professionals), who act out scenarios that could possibly escalate, and use techniques that turn them into better outcomes. “Crisis Intervention Team Training is a model for community policing that brings together law enforcement, mental health providers, hospital emergency departments and individuals with mental illness and their families to improve responses to people in crisis,” said Belmont PD Capt. Basil Marett. “It's a partnership with the mission to be proactive in improving the quality of life for an individual, family members, and friends with utilizing the information taught in the training.” CIT has many values. These include: Decrease both consumer and of-
ficer injury rates; Decrease the need for lethal force by law enforcement; Reduce the unnecessary incarceration of persons with mental disabilities; Reduce jail costs and jail census; Improve treatment and support resources; 1- Improve community relationships, particularly between law enforcement and consumers and family members; Enhance community policing efforts; Improve ability of law enforcement to effectively manage individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities and/or substance abuse problems; Improve attitudes of law enforcement officers who intervene with people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and/or substance abuse problems. 2- “CIT training helps us better learn how to handle people,” said Belmont PD Officer Pheap Lowrance. “We learn how to step back and listen to their needs.” 3 - According to Karen Creech, who coordinates the CIT program in Gaston County, the local version dates back to January 2014 and eight sessions have been held so far at various venues. Last These Belmont PD officers were among the CIT grads. From left: Capt. Basil Marett, Jim Reagan, Anthony week's event was the first to be hosted Anderson, Pheap Lowrance and Anthony Dover. by Belmont PD. Karen Creech photo See CRISIS page 2
Emily Robinson, MHHS compiling oral Cramerton's top gun histories on computer videos By Alan Hodge
By John Wilson
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
john.bannernews@gmail.com
There is much about Emily Robinson that can throw you off. If you engaged her in a conversation you would find yourself talking to a clever 17 year old teen. One who is witty and full of life. A young Southern girl with a distinctive style all her own. There is no doubt Ms. Robinson is all Southern. That is with a slight twist. Unlike most of her peers Emily's bubbly nature hides a big part of who she is. Emily has a side hobby that takes her to a place where most girls her age would feel, well, out of place. You see, Emily is in to competitive rifle and pistol shooting. Really into it. At first some would say, so what? No big deal. A lot of Southern girls can shoot. But with Emily we aren't talking plinking cans in the backyard shooting. No, we are talking full time hard core competition shooting. Emily can run and gun with the best of them. Emily first started shooting when she was little. "Shooting is a family affair," Emily said. "When I was young my parents Rodney and Belinda Robinson had us out on the range. Me and my two older brothers." Emily said that her shooting memories go back to when she was little. "The first time I was three," Emily laughed. "I shot a .22 long See EMILY ROBINSON page 4
A written recollection is worth the number of words in it, an archival picture is worth a thousand words (or so it's been said), and a videotaped oral history is worth all of them put together. Acting on that principle, the Mt. Holly Historical Society has embarked on yet another interesting project by gathering over two dozen taped oral history interviews, placing them on a computer in the museum at 131 S. Main St., and making them available to visitors to sit and enjoy. The segments were originally recorded as far back as 1994 and as recently as a few weeks ago. Each interview lasts from five minuted to an hour. To create the oral history archive, MHHS member Garrie Brinkley Mt. Holly Historical Society members Robert Black (left) and Garrie Brinkley are seen watching a video made by the late Bobby John Rhyne several years ago. See ORAL HISTORIES page 2 Photo by Alan Hodge
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