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Master of Justice Administration
“If you do honest work, your
name/reputation will speak
for itself,” - NCDPS Training
Instructor Alfred Bell
In This Issue
NCDPS Employee us-
es research practically
MU Activities
Woodrow Wilson Visit-
ing Fellow
Coordinator’s Corner
SC Prisons and Anti-
Cell Phone Technology
NCDPS Employee Uses MJA Research in Current Position
By: Lisa Long
Alfred Bell was one of the first members of the North Carolina Department of Public Safe-
ty to complete his Master of Justice Administration. Starting the program in August of
2008, Bell was the only member of NCDPS in his class at the time. Bell began his career
with NCDPS in 1987 as a correctional officer shortly after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree
in criminal justice from Shaw University.
After holding many positions within NCDPS, Bell has currently settled in as a training in-
structor, as he approaches his 30 year anniversary with DPS.
“I haven’t set a retirement date yet. I am looking at starting my second career,” says Bell.
Bell notes that having his MJA has increased the ability for him to have other career op-
portunities available to him. He will soon begin teaching as a part-time adjunct instructor
at North Carolina Wesleyan College. His career with DPS coupled with his MJA experi-
ence and education will make him a valuable asset to NC Wesleyan.
“Getting my MJA has made me more marketable in the workplace,” Bell stated.
As a DPS training instructor, Bell is responsible for training basic correction officers for
certification. The training requires
him to organize course materials
and objectives, in conjunction with
feedback surveys and lesson
plans. Bell found a way to incor-
porate his daily job functions into
his capstone project while in the
MJA program.
“My capstone was titled
“Organizational and Occupational
Commitment of Correctional Offic-
ers,” Bell recalls.
His capstone examined the differ-
ence in turnover rates of correc-
tional officers that were attending
training and those that had al-
ready completed their training.
(continued page 3)
Engage. Enrich. Empower October 2016
Alfred Bell, North Carolina Department of Public Safety
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Visiting Woodrow Wilson Fellow on MU Campus
Methodist University was honored and privileged to welcome Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow Mr. Richard Benedetto to campus September 26-28,
2016. While on campus, Benedetto conducted a question and answer session during the first presidential debate in Berns Student Center. The
following evening, Benedetto provided a lecture to MU students, faculty, staff and the general public regarding “Politics and the Media”. Benedetto
was also interviewed on MU Radio by mass communications faculty and students.
Benedetto is a retired White House Correspondent/columnist for the “USA Today” and a former political columnist for the Gannett News Service.
He covered the presidencies of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He also covered every presidential cam-
paign from 1984-2004 and every national political convention since 1976.
Methodist University Activities
October 1,2 , 8pm
MU Theatre presents “Much Ado about Romeo and Juliet”
October 6, 7:30pm
Fayetteville Symphonic Band & MU Concert Band Joint Concert
October 7, 7:30pm
Piano Trio: Cello, Violin and Piano
October 21-22
Homecoming & Parents Weekend
October 21
Foreign Film Series: “Lamerica”
Mr. Richard Benedetto provides a lecture regarding “Politics and
Media”
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Bell, continued
“The research was useful in that I looked at the level or organizational commitment amongst newly hired correctional officers,” Bell recalls.
Bell’s research showed that organizational and occupational commitment were favorable amongst newly hired officers. He noted, however,
NCDPS needs to continue to strive to obtain a higher level of commitment, especially since research is showing that most of their officers are
leaving within the first two years of employment.
“In my current position, I am in charge of ensuring that they are properly training once they are hired,” Bell says.
While Bell’s capstone research has proven to be a very beneficial part of his MJA journey, he notes some other highlights as well. As with most
MJA graduates, Bell enjoyed the fact that he was able to meet people from other agencies while he was in the program.
“I was the only one from NCDPS in my class,” said Bell. “[I was able] to learn about other departments and agencies.”
Not only did Bell enjoy being around his fellow classmates, he was able to take advantage of some of the resources offered by the MJA program
in order to be a successful graduate student. Bell encourages current students and prospective students to do the same thing.
“Communication with [your] professors is very important. And by all means, USE THE WRITING CENTER WHEN YOU NEED IT!” Bell exclaims.
“If you do honest work, your name/reputation will speak for itself.”
Along with being a criminal justice professional, Bell is also a certified personal trainer that enjoys working out and spending time with his wife
and daughter. He also enjoys riding his motorcycle and doing work in the community with his motorcycle club. While Bell is a native of Tarboro,
NC, where he was a three-sport letterman in high school (football, basketball and track), he has made Raleigh, NC his home since attending
Shaw University.
(l-r), Bell’s wife, Jacqueline , his daughter, Alexis, and Bell
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Making child’s costume safe:
Make sure costumes are flame-retardant
Costumes should be kept short to prevent tripping
Have children wear comfortable shoes
Use make-up instead of a mask-masks can be hot and can obstruct a child’s view
Children should wear light colors or place reflective tape on costumes
Make costume accessories (such as knives, guns or swords) from cardboard or flexible material
Alternative Celebrations:
Halloween costume parties with treats, games,
contests, haunted houses, etc, at; Schools, Fire Sta-
tions, Libraries, Shopping centers/malls
Making You Home and Neighborhood Safe:
Turn on exterior lights to welcome trick-or-treaters
Remove toys and other items from sidewalks and yard
Have your Neighborhood Watch or Citizen’s group assist in
patrolling the neighborhood
Ask for volunteers to act as crossing guards
If you operate a motor vehicle, drive slowly and be ob-
servant for children
Report suspicious activity or criminal activity to police
Tips for Your Trick-or-Treaters
Older children should travel with friends, NEVER ALONE
Set time limits for children to trick-or-treat-Map out a safe
route, no shortcuts.
Tell children not to enter a stranger’s house
Have children trick-or-treat while it’s still light outside– if
it’s dark, have them carry a flashlight
Tell your children not to eat treats until they return home
and you have inspected them first.
Allow children to eat only unopened candies and in origi-
nal wrappers
Adapted from Houston, TX Police Department
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Coordinator’s Corner
As we all go through our day-to-day lives, it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With the current climate
in our nation, stemming from all of the negativity, it’s so important for us to maintain focus on the important things in life. The current
plight of mainstream media and social media consists of political smear campaigns, criticisms of law enforcement, agendas of second-string
quarterbacks, peaceful protests, not-so peaceful protests, rioting, looting, mass shootings, terrorist attacks,; international and domestic,
and so much more negativity that I’m not going to waste my precious words or space perpetuating it. What I’d rather talk about is enjoying
the small things, living life daily and enjoying the ones that you love because you never know when your life may take a drastic change.
Recently, my husband and I traveled to West Virginia to visit my in-laws. This was an impromptu weekend trip, as my sister-in-law has been
providing daily reports that my mother-in-law’s health has been deteriorating lately. She’s lost her appetite, spends a lot of time in a con-
fused state and just isn’t herself anymore. She was always an AVID Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. When we arrived at
their house, she was sitting in her rocking chair. I began to have a conversation with her about the Patriots playing that weekend and Tom
Brady not playing. She wasn’t sure when the Patriots played, she didn’t remember why Brady wasn’t playing, but, when I reminded her of
the infamous “Deflate Gate” she said, “Oh yea, that’s so stupid!” :-)
As we went through that weekend, I realized that the truth of the matter is my mother-in-law has forever been changed by Alzheimer’s.
She has since been diagnosed and her health is continuing to deteriorate. She and my father-in-law have been married for more than 59
years. His life, too, has been affected by this change in his soulmate and her recent diagnosis. But guess what, I watched him continue to
take care of her, just like he vowed to do on the day they were married. I watched him heat homemade spaghetti for her, place a small
bite on a fork and insist that she eat it, because he knows that nutrition is important. I watched him pour her a wine glass full of Coca-
Cola, because he knows that’s her favorite drink. I watched him give her pills to take, one by one, ensuring that she took them all. Never
did he show any signs of frustration, sadness, disgust or anger. He was patient, he was kind and he was loving. He knows that his wife isn’t
the same, he knows that their lives are forever changed, but in the midst of all of the heartache and the pain, he remains calm, still smiles
and manages to laugh. At one point, my mother-in-law said something completely out of the blue that neither of us understood, but of
course she knew what she was talking about. We all laughed, and then my father-in-law said, “It’s funny, but it’s not funny…” This let me
know that he misses his wife, he misses the girl he married, he misses the woman that he raised his children with, he misses the spouse
that stood by him throughout his many tours during his Navy career, and he misses his best friend. I can only imagine what he would give
just to have his wife back.
So, instead of watching the nightly news to see
which presidential candidate blew up on twitter,
or what unarmed black man has been shot, or
what professional athlete takes a knee, spend
time with your loved ones. Hug and kiss your
spouse, play in the floor with your “youngins”,
wrestle with your teenage son, paint your teen-
age daughter’s toenails and allow her to paint
yours. Spend time fostering and nurturing the
relationships that truly matter. That’s how we
will make a lifelong change in our great nation.
Disclaimer: Views presented in this section of the newsletter are that of the program
coordinator and in no way represent Methodist University
I welcome your feedback and opinions!! I will publish (reasonable) responses
and feedback!! Send any feedback or responses, or suggestions for content
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Recent Student Promotions/Career Changes
We are proud of our current and former students that have recently received pro-
motions. Please continue to provide us with this information so we can congratu-
late you and share it with your peers. Keep up the great work!!
Ernest Darroch (graduate)-SBI, Promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge
John Holly-Named Fayetteville Technical Community College Program Coordi-
nator for Law Enforcement Training
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SC prisons get green light for anti-cellphone tech:
The technology can catch prisoners in the act when they try to use illegal prison cell-
phones
By Meg Kinnard Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's prisons agency got approval Tuesday to start implementing technol-ogy that can catch prisoners in the act when they try to use illegal prison cellphones.
It's not the cell signal jamming that the Department of Corrections has been seeking to use. But Correc-
tions Director Bryan Stirling told The Associated Press on Tuesday that being able to track down smug-
gled cellphones when they're turned on behind bars is a step in the right direction.
Stirling said the more than $20,000 approved by the State Fiscal Accountability Authority will fund engi-
neering costs for a sophisticated system to be used at a handful of prisons that house some of the state's
most dangerous inmates. And he says his agency already has the remaining $1.3 million needed to fully
fund it.
South Carolina has tried for years to crack down on the phones, thousands of which are confiscated in the
state's prisons every year, smuggled inside hollowed out footballs, whisked in by corrupt employees and
sometimes even dropped by drone.
Stirling said smuggled phones are "one of the most dangerous problems" he faces, giving inmates an
unmonitored, unfettered means of continuing their crimes and even perpetrating violence. A South Caroli-
na Corrections officer nearly died in a 2010 shooting outside his home that authorities said was planned by an inmate using a smuggled phone.
Guards have tried old-fashioned searches, metal detectors, even tech-sniffing dogs to find them. The agency says the Cell Phone Interdiction System
approved Tuesday will be able to pinpoint their use to a single inmate's cell.
Still, it's a stopgap measure — what the director really wants is permission to jam cell signals in the state's prisons altogether, using transmitters that ren-
der smuggled phones into paperweights. He's got the support of Gov. Nikki Haley. But the cellphone industry stands in the way, citing a federal law
passed in 1934.
The law says the Federal Communications Commission can grant permission to jam public airwaves only to federal agencies, not state or local ones. The
industry strongly opposes localized jamming technology, out of concern that it could set a precedent leading to much wider gaps in their networks.
Five FCC commissioners voted in 2013 to kick-start a conversation about what the agency could do to combat the problem, but that effort never ad-
vanced. At an FCC field hearing in South Carolina earlier this year, held at Haley's invitation, Commissioner Ajit Pai called the status quo "not acceptable"
and said he would renew a discussion about next steps.
The FCC had no immediate comment on the cellphone locating technology or South Carolina's pursuit of jamming technology.
"While the FCC doesn't allow us to use this technology, we continue to look for ways to make our institutions and the public safe," Stirling said. Jamming,
he said, remains "the ultimate solution." Copyright 2016 The Associated Press
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Methodist University
Master of Justice Administration
5400 Ramsey St.
Fayetteville, NC 28311
http://www.methodist.edu/mja-admissions
https://www.facebook.com/methodistmja.coordinator
Program Director
Dr. Darl H. Champion
Phone: 910-630-7050
Email: [email protected]
Program Coordinator
Lisa G. Long, MJA
Phone: 910-630-7268
Email: [email protected]
