Wilmington, NC Police Department

KITS4KIDS

First Responders from Wilmington Police Department Receive Kits4Kids

On July 17th, Wilmington Police Department First Responders gathered to assemble Kits4Kids. Thanks to the generous donation of Samet Corporation, officers worked together to support the community by equipping themselves with special kits for kids. These kits help officers make children feel more comfortable and at ease during difficult times, which is crucial for building trust and rapport with the community.

The Kits4Kids program is essential for providing children with the support and resources they need to thrive, even during times of stress and trauma. The First Responder Kits4Kids, meticulously crafted to equip First Responders with a powerful arsenal of tools, are not just objects but immediate sources of relief. As soon as First Responders arrive at a service call where children are present, they can deploy these kits, instantly making a positive difference in the lives of these children. This immediate impact is a testament to the effectiveness of the program and the shared commitment to the well-being of our community's children.

"As President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, I am proud to support the Kits 4 Kids initiative. These kits have the potential to lessen children's traumatic experiences during encounters with law enforcement, redirecting the focus of the moment toward a positive exchange. We at NOBLE are committed to working with organizations that better our communities, and we believe these kits will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children we serve." Rodney Braynt, NOBLE President.

Each Kit4Kids is a unique collection of activities meticulously chosen to cater to a wide range of interests and needs. It features a Playtime Disposable Play Pad, offering over 25 engaging activities and providing a clean and safe surface for children to play on. The Kit4Kids also includes a set of vibrant crayons to spark creativity, a Rubik's cube for mental stimulation, a First Responder miniature vehicle to foster comfort around emergency personnel, and Play-Doh for sensory play. With such diverse tools, First Responders can confidently engage children in various ways, ensuring their comfort and distraction during emergencies.

Additionally, the kit features a positive affirmation stress ball, which can help children relax and feel more at ease during stressful situations. Noise-canceling earplugs are also included to help protect children's ears from loud noises and provide comfort. Overall, the First Responder Kits4Kits are an invaluable resource for First Responders who frequently encounter children during emergency calls. By providing a distraction and source of comfort for children, these kits4kids can help mitigate the trauma and stress resulting from emergency situations.

Kevin Gatlin and James Fisher-Davis, the founders of First Responder Kits4Kids, are the dads behind the creation of these kits. They designed the First Responder Kits4Kids to be utilized as a distraction kit that would aid first responders when interacting with children. The two combined their strengths to develop the kits, which have been featured on various media outlets.

Here at the WPD, we want to say THANK YOU to Kits4Kids, Samet Corporation, Central Church, and Band of Honor for this generous donation!

PRESS RELEASE AND JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE: U.S. ATTORNEY MICHAEL EASLEY

RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, along with federal and local law enforcement, provided an update regarding ongoing and coordinated efforts to address violent crime in Wilmington and surrounding areas. The Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) is a collaboration of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, To***co, Fi****ms and Explosives (ATF). A primary objective of the VCAP is to investigate and prosecute individuals contributing significantly to crime in the city of Wilmington and surrounding areas.

As part of this effort, law enforcement most recently led a coordinated apprehension operation in June to identify and arrest defendants who were wanted for various outstanding charges, including violent offenses and drug offenses. According to court documents, the following nine individuals, all from the Wilmington area, were arrested on federal charges as part of the recent enforcement effort:

-Steven Ray Berg III, 29, distribution of co***ne.
-Kevon Lamante Bracey, 26, possession with intent to distribute co***ne and co***ne base (crack), possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a felon.
-Treyquan Deonte Corbett, 25, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of he**in, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
-Robert James Dick, 24, possession of firearm by a felon, possession of a machine gun.
-Kevin Emmanuel Freeman, 29, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and he**in, distribution of fentanyl, and aiding and abetting.
-Rashawn Herbert Hines, 29, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and he**in, distribution of fentanyl, and aiding and abetting.
-Tyke’eke Monte Hines, 25, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of he**in.
-William Rashiem Lane, 35, possession of firearm by a felon.
-Andre Session, 29, federal supervised release violation.

Since the beginning of last year, a team of prosecutors, analysts, and investigators have collaborated to identify, charge, and arrest, individuals contributing to violent crime in Wilmington and surrounding areas, leading to 37 federal indictments and 41 guns seized, including five fully-automatic machine guns and six privately made fi****ms commonly known as “Ghost Guns.” In addition, over 40 grams of fentanyl have been seized – enough for 20,000 potentially fatal doses. In the cases that have already been resolved, defendants collectively face over 1,700 months in custody.

“We are working around the clock to identify and prosecute anyone driving gun violence and narcotics trafficking in the Wilmington area,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Our VCAP partnership makes public safety in Southeastern North Carolina a top priority and brings federal resources to the fight. In the heat of summer, when violence tends to spike, we want the public to know that we’re working relentlessly to keep violent crime on the decline. This partnership has already taken dozens of guns off the streets, including five fully-automatic machine guns. Any felon caught with a gun this summer faces the very real threat of federal prosecution. This team is laser focused on driving down gun violence and drug trafficking in this region.”

“I am extremely proud of the dedication and hard work that our officers and detectives have put into assisting with this joint operation. Illegal narcotics in the hands of criminals is a dangerous problem that we will continue to combat on the front lines. I am thankful for the strong partnerships we have with our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Our department will diligently work to pursue and prosecute those responsible for illegal activities to foster a safer environment for our citizens to live and work,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams.

“Our federal and state partnerships are demonstrating exceptional effectiveness in catching criminals who know no jurisdictional lines,” said New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon. “Our collaborative effort enhances public safety across the state. By leveraging the unique strengths and resources of both federal and state agencies, we are able to streamline operations, share critical information, and execute coordinated strategies that lead to successful apprehensions.”

“These arrests demonstrate the strong partnership between state and federal authorities and are yet another step towards making Wilmington a safer community,” said New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David. “My office appreciates the collaboration with the law enforcement and prosecutorial partners and will continue to seek maximum sentences in any venue for individuals who are committing offenses involving fi****ms and fentanyl.”

“The United States Marshals Service, through its long standing federal, state, and local partnerships ensures that violent fugitives are continuously pursued, discretely located, and safely arrested,” said U.S. Marshal Glenn McNeill for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The Wilmington VCAP is yet another example of those efforts.”

“The FBI is committed to identifying, arresting, and working with our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office to prosecute violent criminal street gang members and drug traffickers. It doesn't matter whether it's gang violence in a major metropolitan area or fentanyl sales in a rural neighborhood, neither has a place in our communities. The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force works every day to rid our communities of these destructive illegal activities," said Robert M. DeWitt, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

“Collaboration is an important part of any plan aimed at addressing violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF is proud to be a part of the Violent Crime Action Plan and we remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our communities.”

An indictment/criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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THIEVES OF THE WEEK

It's FRIDAY and another brand new edition of Thieves of the Week is here for you! Help us lock these criminals up. Watch the entire episode here: