The following is a letter to the editor from a Rhino Times reader who asked that his name not be revealed for fear of retaliation. (The Rhino Times would like to point out that this publication supports law enforcement officers and knows that there are many terrific officers in the state’s Highway Patrol.)
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is corrupt to the core. Their officers are preening narcissists and their command structure enables and encourages a culture of machismo bravado in which truth and honesty are marginalized.
[the tip of an iceberg displays only part of its structure, so today’s revelations expose only a glimpse of their culture and depravity.
It has come to light that Troopers Matthew Morrison and Garrett Macario [Editor’s Note: Allegedly] “supplied false information” to the Raleigh Police Department. They were caught in their lies by cameras they were unaware of.
Wake County D.A. Lorrin Freeman has admitted that she will have to dismiss the 180 cases of DWI in which Macario was involved and expects to drop dozens more involving Morrison.
NC State Troopers do not see their role as to protect and serve. They view themselves as predators, speeding and driving like cowboys – above the laws of man and physics – as they look for any pretext to ensnare their prey. That is you and I as we go about our business.
The NC State Highway Patrol needs to be disbanded. They are constitutionally corrupt and they discredit law enforcement.
– Name Withheld
So the editor allows for an anonymous post that discredits the patrol as a whole due to the actions of 2, with a header of the RT being supportive of LEO. Give me a damn break. Either post without anonymity or don’t post. Oh wait, the person must fear retribution or negative response. Of course there will be feedback, that’s part of discussion. I have never seen legitimate news sources in a LTTE keep a letter anonymous. It may as well be written by the organization itself, disguised as a LTTE.
You lose value in printing this.
I am sorry if I wasn’t clear in my intro. Your’s is the point I was trying to make by mentioning the HP officers who do great jobs. The gigantic flaw in this letter is that it takes a couple of instances of potential wrongdoing to lambaste an entire agency of thousands. Maybe it was a bad idea to run the letter, however, if letters to the editors sections in newspapers only ran well thought out and factual letters there would be practically no letters to the editor ever published. Scott Yost
Seems to at least be some basis this person’s rant about the specific officers in question. But a couple of individuals do to always represent the whole.
https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/01/23/wake-county-nc-180-cases-dismissed-dwi-nc-trooper-investigation
Chris, I think yo meant to say “do not always represent.”
Sorry. You are correct. Am attention span is not focused enough to proof well.
The two officers who pulled me for speeding were very courteous and were correct I was going too fast and I don’t believe the actions of two can document all the rest. There are good and bad apples in most baskets. Don’t mean you should cut down the tree
I agree the letter should be posted. I do not feel that all Highway Troopers fit the description described in the letter, but it does apply to some. I have loved ones that are law enforcement and one that retired as a highway Tropper. It is my belief that you can have bad apples in any group, and they will need to be dealt with one on one instead of lumping them in a bad pile. I have dealt with arrogant and professional in my lifetime and usually the arrogant will end up with issues as time continues. Give law enforcement the same respect that you want to be shown and usually it will work in your favor. You may still get that ticket, but they have a job to do and are there to protect our citizens.
You can go online to the Raleigh paper website and read the full story, what was written is a factual story
Will I read the story in the Raleigh Paper and yes there are some bad apples in all Law enforcement Groups I have seen quite a few in my 71 years. Some do not deserve to ever have pinned on the badge .These two were caught on cameras that they were unaware of which makes it particularly damning.
But a lot of troopers ARE asses, aren’t they? They know what they get by with.
You could say this about all professions…clergy, teachers, congress, baristas, accountants, truck drivers, painters, accountants, parking enforcement, HVAC techs, wait staff, doctors, admin staff, plumbers, morticians…okay maybe not morticians, actors, brick masons, janitors, bail bonds, store clerks (except Trader Joe’s – you have to be an awesome human to work at Trader Joe’s), dog groomers, opera and southern gospel singers, barbers, massage therapists, filmmakers, tattoo artists, used car sales folks, dancers, chefs (especially chefs ), mechanics, and some pager sales reps. Who’d I miss? I.T support? Car stereo installers? General contractors?
You’re missing the point, buddy. Hairdressers and baristas don’t have the power to extort money from me or destroy my life with a contrived and fake DWI. They don’t have all the power and might of the state behind them, to crush me. And they don’t swim in a sewer of “toxic masculinity”, unspoken but accepted dishonesty, and unaccountable power. The NCSHP Troopers do.
You missed hookers and politicians
Hey don’t put hookers in the same boat as politicians. That ain’t fair – to the hookers.
I’ve had an NCDL for muchos anos. Every contact I have had with law enforcement (usually on the highway) has been polite and purposeful. Everyone has a bad day, and messes it up, except me.