Community Safety Team
The Community Safety Team consists of five deputies responsible for working areas that have been identified as "high crime" areas or neighborhoods with special needs. These assignments are temporary and moved around Rowan County as the need arises. The unit works areas in the county with drug problems, traffic concerns or any area where high visibility and concentrated efforts may assist in eliminating a problem. This unit is also available to work drug interdiction along the interstate and highways throughout the county. One officer is designated as a Highway Safety Officer and works closely with the Governor's Highway Safety Program in providing training and safety programs for high school drivers as well as seat belt and child safety seat programs.
Should you feel your area has a need for the CST or any particuliar community program, contact Lt D. Y. Yokley at the Rowan County Sheriff's Office at 704-216-8700 or via email at debra.yokley@rowancountync.gov
Community Programs Offered
Gang Awareness - Basic information on gangs, recognizing gang graffiti, and warning signs to watch for concerning your child. Approximately 1.5 hours.
Community Watch - Officers meet with members of the community and help citizens start a Community Watch Program in their neighborhoods. Approximately 1 hour.
Senior Safety - Senior citizens are given pointers on how to make their homes safer, how to avoid scams, and general safety in the public. Approximately 30-45 minutes.
Child Safety Seat Installation Program - Officers will attend your community event and demonstrate the proper way to install child safety seats in vehicles to keep children as safe as possible in the event of an accident.
Child Identification Kits - Your group or organization can request child identification kits from the Rowan County Sheriff's Office. These kits, which are kept by the parent, contain the child's photo, fingerprints, and other important information. Kits are free of charge to any organization wishing to receive them.
Driver Education / Safety Program - A Community Safety Officer teaches students involved in the driver's education program the dangers of impaired driving and excessive speed. This course is given in conjunction with the Rowan-Salisbury County School System's driver's ed.
Fatal Vision - A program in which participants wear goggles that mimic the effects of alcohol and then attempt to maneuver a golf cart through a series of traffic cones.
DWI Checkpoints - The Rowan County Sheriff's Office is periodically involved in DWI checkpoints in an attempt to keep our streets and highways safe.
Lake Patrol - Officers are assigned to patrol the High Rock Lake area during peak months for watercraft violations. Officers assist stranded boaters and look for dangerous boating violations.