January 2010 • Vol. 6, No. 07 A Shoreline Community, Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. Town Hall 247-4353
The Pine Knoll Shores Fire/EMS and Police
departments have been combined and now
form the Department of Public Safety under the
leadership of William "Bill" Matthias, former
Fire/EMS and Emergency Management Chief.
Former Fire Marshall Jason Baker will assume
responsibilities as the Deputy Chief for Fire/EMS
Protection and Sergeant Jim Parks will now serve
as Interim Deputy Chief for Law Enforcement.
These changes were announced in a December 1,
2009, press release by Town Manager Brian Kramer.
In this release, Kramer noted that the acceptance of
"resignations of Police Chief Joe Culpepper, Police Lt.
Lee Rice, and Officer Sidney Lemay" was a factor in
his decision to reorganize these departments. Kramer
emphasized that the town will continue to have "one
officer and one car patrolling the town 24 hours a day,
seven days a week and 365 days a year as has been
the practice of the past." He noted that there are five
Departments Merge
By Charlie McBriarty
full-time law enforcement officers, and there continue
to be eight part-timers. The resignations did reduce the
number of supervisors within the police department,
but the reorganization is expected to maintain
effective supervision and support of the officers.
Both Kramer and newly appointed Director of Public
Safety Matthias indicated that the law enforcement
personnel needs were under study, and the status of
the recently vacated positions is yet to be determined.
However, Matthias noted that the need for new fire/
EMS volunteers has already been identified, and he
urged anyone interested stop by the Public Safety
Building to find out more.
They also noted that re-organization will stimulate
a reevaluation of the delivery of needed services to
the town. Kramer explained that the public safety
needs of the town are greater during the summer
months, when the population expands from 1,600
to as many as 10,000 people, and noted that the
summer also increases the need for public
safety presence at the increasing number
of public beach accesses and on the
beach. Matthias indicated that his goal
was to build a "better team working
together." He explained that there
will likely be adjustments with respect
to responding to calls. The nature of
the call will determine whether fire,
EMS or law enforcement personnel
or some combination are required.
Both Kramer and Matthias noted that the
concept of merging fire, EMS, police and
emergency maintenance is not unique,
and it has been successfully implemented
in a number of municipalities including
nearby Kinston and Nags Head.
Healthy and Happy. Nineteen month old John Klors
is pictured with Emma, the family dog.
It Pays to Get a Second
Or Even a Third Opinion
By Jill Cross
We all have a lot to be thankful for, but maybe not as
much as Wes and Missy Klor of Willow Rd. Their first
child, John, was born May 28,2008, with the umbilical
cord wrapped tightly around his neck, causing him
to be on oxygen for the first 24 hours of his life. The
next day, he appeared to be okay, but when John was
about six months old, the Klors noticed he was missing
milestones. Their fears were confirmed when they
took him to a neurologist in Greenville and also to a
pediatric neurodevelopmentalist in Wilmington. Both
doctors diagnosed John with cerebral palsy based on
his clinical symptoms and his difficult delivery.
Pediatric Neurodevelopmentalist Dr. Karen Harum
encouraged the Klors to do an MRI and genetic testing
Continued on page 3
Newly Appointed. Former Fire/EMS and Emergency Management
Chief was recently appointed to serve as the town's first director of
the Department of Public Safety.
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Deadline for February issue is FnV?ai//an. 15. Deadline for March issue is Friday Feb. 15. Articles always welcome!
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