The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is going after criminals on both the highway and the internet with two programs recently approved by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners
At its Thursday, Aug. 6 meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved continued funding for the Sheriff’s Office DWI Task Force and also gave the Sheriff’s Office permission to apply for as much as $750,000 in federal grant funding to combat cybercrimes against individuals.
The DWI Task Force is certainly not a new operation, – and the statistics provided to commissioners indicate its members have been keeping busy.
During the first six months of 2026, the task force cited 236 people for driving while impaired and seized 20 vehicles connected with DWI offenses.
Task force members also cited 98 people for failing to wear seat belts.
The unit does more than hand out citations. According to information provided to the commissioners, task force members have made presentations to dozens of high school driver education classes and attended community events reaching more than 10,000 people during the first six months of the year.
The Governor’s Highway Safety DWI Task Force grant is designed to address traffic safety problems including impaired driving and drivers and passengers who aren’t properly restrained, with a particular emphasis on children.
The Guilford County task force consists of five positions – one sergeant, one master corporal, one DWI educator and two enforcement deputies.
The total estimated annual cost of the program is $569,849.
Guilford County is providing $427,387 of that amount, while $142,462 will come from state and federal funding.
Because the final grant award differed from the amount estimated when the county adopted its fiscal 2026-2027 budget, commissioners also approved a $14,337 increase in the project appropriation.
Of that increase, $3,634 will come from additional state and federal funds and $10,703 will be transferred from the Sheriff’s Office General Fund budget.
The grant helps pay salaries and benefits as well as for training and in-state and out-of-state travel expenses for members of the task force.
While the DWI Task Force is dealing with crimes committed on Guilford County roads, the Sheriff’s Office is also hoping to expand its ability to investigate crimes committed with computers and other technology on the internet.
Commissioners approved a request from Sheriff Danny Rogers to apply for up to $750,000 through the federal Office on Violence Against Women’s Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program.
The grant would run for 36 months and wouldn’t require any additional county funding.
The federal program is aimed at cybercrimes committed against individuals, including those crimes using computers to harass, threaten, stalk, extort, coerce or intimidate someone or cause that person to fear for his or her safety.
It also covers the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images of adults.
The Sheriff’s Office plans to seek funding in two areas.
The first is training law enforcement officers to identify and protect victims of cybercrimes, assist victims, enforce laws covering cybercrime and use technology to investigate those offenses.
Grant money could also pay overtime costs associated with that training.
The second area is equipment.
The Sheriff’s Office could use grant funding to purchase computers, computer equipment and other technology needed to investigate cybercrimes and conduct forensic analysis of digital evidence.
The grant could also cover training, maintenance and technical updates needed to keep that equipment operational.
Unlike the DWI Task Force funding, the commissioners’ Aug. 6 action doesn’t mean the Sheriff’s Office has received the cybercrime money.
It simply authorizes the department to apply for the grant, which could provide as much as$750,000 over three years if the application is successful.
i need a different program than this – don’t give up
Two programs: arrest and prosecution.
Just say no.
Irving R. Levine called it “The Fleecing of America.” It bears many names, but at the core you’re being convinced you cannot do without a non-mandated service being funded by you, John & Jane Public. Don’t worry, its subsidized by additional State & Federal grants (also paid by you!)
A little creative writing in a press release and many of you would fully support a new 6 person unit dedicated to saving endangered blue haired liberal lot lizards.
If its not a mandated service (required by law) you don’t need it.
Back to basics, cut government spending, cut government waste, cut unnecessary services, cut out of control programs, cut government jobs, reduce it all to a meaningful core of only what is absolutely necessary.
The private sector can handle the bulk of the non-mandated BS and those who use the services can pay for what they choose to use.
altruism is a tough sell, only the wealthy/capable have something to give or have taken. they loose ‘alpha’ acquired assets in exchange for ‘protection’ ? prestige ? they ‘reinforce their ‘alpha’ status ?
The problem with “if it isn’t mandated, you don’t need it” is that it’s a slogan, not a test of public policy.
Being legally mandated doesn’t make a service worthwhile, and not being legally mandated doesn’t make it wasteful. The relevant questions are: What does the program cost? What does it accomplish? Who benefits? Are there measurable public benefits? And is there a more efficient way to achieve the same result?
The “let the private sector handle it and make users pay” argument also conveniently ignores public goods and externalities—things where the benefits extend beyond the person writing the check. If a program reduces crime, improves public health, keeps people employed, or prevents more expensive problems later, taxpayers may benefit even if they never personally use the service.
And “cut government waste” is certainly a worthy goal. But unless you’re willing to identify what should actually be cut and demonstrate that the benefits aren’t worth the cost, you’re not really making an argument about government spending. You’re just expressing a preference for less government and calling everything you don’t like “waste.”
Calling every non-mandated service ‘BS’ doesn’t make it wasteful; it just means you’ve decided the conclusion before examining the evidence.
ditto. threaten to discontinue social security & make these anti socialists squirm !
Oh Boy! Here we go!
i have ‘handbasket’ for 2 !
I have a bicycle built for two, but she won’t let me sit behind her.
The cost of the programs maybe high, however the price of saving a life, changing a life is priceless.
I am grateful for taking drunk drivers off the road, perpetrators of violence against women as most of these individuals pick on the weak and are cowards. Those of us who took an oath to protect & defend those who cannot would love to meet these individuals one on one an see just how brave they are?
your ‘priceless’ means strangers pay a high price solving what YOU decide is a problem. your solution is called ‘GO FUND ME’ rather than TAXPAYER SHAKEDOWN ! good luck with that
Priceless means a life is saved. No go fund me –
“Federal grant funding” is just another way of saying taxpayer’s money.
. Hey, did y’all hear about the stabbing at Four Seasons Mall?
Never mind about guys who drive after a few beers – 99% of the time which is a victimless crime.
We need stronger knife control !!!
Careful. Britain did that silly knife control thing….don’t give anyone ideas.
It’s sarcasm, buddy.
I thought only Muslims were allowed to carry knives in Britain
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Muslims constitute 18 per cent of prison inmates while only comprising 6.5 per cent of the overall UK population. So they display criminal behaviour at three times the rate of the indigenous Britons, despite directives in the British justice system to make allowances for persons of foreign cultures. That means that they get off lightly.
The British government is now distributing pamphlets to the precious ‘New Britons’ who wash up daily on our Southern beaches, outlining that “In the UK both people must say ‘Yes’ to sex. This is called consent”.
Apparently this needs to be explained to people whose “culture” does not understand this, and who think any beautiful British girl is prey.
We used to call such people uncivilized barbaric savages. Now we invite them in by the million, and wonder why British decency, manners, and customs have been destroyed.
This would be a good time to mention that while the Rhino Times tries to allow as much freedom of expression as possible in the forums, posting reader comments does not in any way shape or form suggest that the Rhino Times agrees with the views of the posters.
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That’s understood Scott. The Fourth Estate, when it’s at its best, is a farrago of beliefs and opinions, none of which necessarily reflect editorial opinion.
Given the violence perpetrated on the journalists at Charlie Hebdo I don’t blame you for clarifying this.
I want you to stay above ground and healthy.
The truth has to find an outlet; some things that cannot be said sometimes need to be said.
The Rhino is an invaluable asset in the struggle for truly free speech.
Thank you.
.
Thank you.
how do i identify strength of knives ? i can identify sharpness sharpening ability corrosion resistance . . .
Use it on your finger. You will know. Knowledge is power.
sharp knife is power. strong knife is ?