It`s Telecommunicator Appreciation Week! Thank you to all of the 911 operators for answering the call and being the unsung heroes of our community. 🚔📞💙

#TelecommunicatorsAppreciationWeek #ThankYou911 #WeAreCCSO

Please join us for Options, Services, and Hope for Crime Survivors in Cleveland County to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week on April 25, 2024, from 11am-2pm at the Bobby Bell Pavilion in Shelby, NC. We will be hosting a resource fair around the pavilion, seeing therapy dog demonstrations, welcoming a keynote speaker who will share about her experience as a violent crime survivor, as well as engaging in a commemorative activity to encourage survivors and assure them that there is hope. We would love to have as much support from our community as possible, so please come out! Can’t wait to see you there!

This week let`s celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth with Lieutenant Melanie Martin. Lt. Martin has been employed with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office since 2004 (20 yrs.).

She is currently the Administrative Lieutenant responsible for handling citizens who walk in requiring law enforcement assistance. She also supervises the Civil Division. Aside from supervising civil, Lt Martin also oversees several community related programs. She is in charge of our Citizen’s Academy, Explorers Program, Silver Alert and R U OK Program. Lt. Martin also works yearly with our fundraiser for Special Olympics where she previously served on the board for North Carolina.

Currently Lt. Martin is working to get the Sheriff’s Office accredited through North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (NCLEA). She is also an adjunct instructor at Cleveland Community College BLET Program. Lt. Martin plays a vital role with making sure the agency maintains professional and engaged relationships with the citizens of Cleveland County. #WHM #WomensHistoryMonth2024 #WeAreCCSO

Let’s begin our celebration of #WomensHistoryMonth with Mrs. Phyllis Byrd Sims. Mrs. Sims began her career as a clerk with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. She moved to the jail in 1981.

In 1983, Phyllis was sworn in as a deputy. Phyllis moved quickly through the ranks as she got promoted to Sergeant in 1985, Lieutenant in 1989 and finally promoted to Captain in 2000. With her promotion, Phyllis became the 1st black female and highest-ranking female in history of the Sheriff’s Office.

As Captain, Phyllis was placed in charge of the detention centers. During her tenure Capt. Sims served on the Board of Directions for North Carolina Jail Administrators Association, where she served a term as President.

Capt. Sims was well known and respected across the state for her knowledge and expertise for jail operations. Capt. Sims served 31 dedicated years with the Sheriff’s Office and serving under the direction of five different Sheriff’s before retiring in 2010. #WHM #WomensHistoryMonth2024 #WeAreCCSO