Governor Cooper Appoints Members to the Governor’s Crime Commission | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH: Governor Cooper appointed eight members to the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission this week. The new members were sworn in by Chief Justice Mark Martin at yesterday's Commission meeting.

    The Governor's Crime Commission's 38 members make recommendations to the governor and the secretary of the Department of Public Safety on federal grants for the state's criminal justice system, crime victims' services and juvenile justice. Federal block grants are awarded each year to government, education and social service agencies to start new and innovative programs and to continue efforts to reduce crime.

    "Helping victims of crime is a tangible way of making people healthier and getting them back to work and back to their lives," said Governor Cooper. "The new members will make a real difference by directing resources in ways to help victims, but also by bringing the best ideas that can really get results."

    Governor Cooper appointed the following to the Crime Commission:

• Michael Yaniero, of Jacksonville, as Police Executive. Yaniero has served as the Director of Public Safety for the City of Jacksonville since 2004. He graduated from East Tennessee State University.
• Dan L. House Jr., of Wrightsville Beach, as Police Executive. House currently serves as the Wrightsville Beach Police Department Chief of Police. House began his career in the Wilson Police Department, where he served in the Patrol Division as an officer and supervisor. He later served as a member of the NC State University Police Department. House holds a Master's of Science Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University and received his Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina Wesleyan College.
• Matthew James Cooper, of Raleigh, as Police Executive. Cooper has been a sworn police officer with the Raleigh Police Department since 2000. Currently, Cooper is a Detective in the Raleigh Policy Intelligence Center assigned to the Career Criminal Unit. Cooper is also the President of the Raleigh Policy Protective Association. Cooper graduated from Niagara University.
• Rev. Bruce E. Stanley, of Raleigh, as Rep. of Private Juvenile Delinquency Program. The Rev. Bruce E. Stanley joined Methodist Home for Children as President/CEO in 2006. Before coming to MHC, Stanley was pastor at six North Carolina churches, most recently serving as Senior Pastor for Millbrook United Methodist Church in Raleigh. He served also as Field Education Director for Duke Divinity School, responsible for developing leaders for the local and global church and communities. Rev. Stanley holds a Master's of Divinity from Harvard and a Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, from West Virginia University.
• Sheriff Charles Blackwood, of Chapel Hill, as County Government Official. Sheriff Blackwood began his career with the Orange County Sheriff's Office in 1980. He was later promoted to Corporal, Sergeant and then Lieutenant of the Patrol Division. In 2003, he was promoted to Captain of Services. In 2010, he was promoted to Major of Operations.
• James Mitchell Jr., of Charlotte, as Municipal Government Official. Mitchell is serving his first term as an at-large council member on the Charlotte City Council. He previously served from 1999 to 2013 as the District 2 Council Member. Mitchell is a graduate of North Carolina Central University.
• Mitch Colvin, of Fayetteville, as Municipal Government Official. Mitch Colvin is the Mayor Pro Tem, Council Member District 3 for the City of Fayetteville. Colvin serves as the Chair of the Gateways and Corridor Committee and represents the Council as a member of the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Colvin is a graduate of John Tyler Mortuary College and Fayetteville State University.
• Judge Thomas H. Jarrell, Jr, of High Point, as Chief District Court Judge. Judge Jarrell is the District Court Judge for the 18th Judicial District, serving Guilford County. Judge Jarrell was appointed in 1999, and was most recently re-elected in 2014. Judge Jarrell graduated from Guilford College and received his J.D. from Campbell University School of Law.

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov