The cleveland county sheriffs office in north carolina is implementing common-sense policing strategies to combat rising violent crime, drug activity, and child exploitation in one of the states…

The Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Program awarded $175,000 to Cleveland County, North Carolina on October 1, 2025 under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710).

Cleveland County Sheriff's Office is implementing undercover chat operations to combat online child trafficking and abuse by acquiring necessary technology and deploying trained investigators. The initiative also deploys school resource officers to build community trust, educate youth, and intervene early in at-risk situations. Partnerships with the Child Advocacy Center, mental health providers, and community organizations provide support to victims and law enforcement personnel. These activities target violent crime, drug activity, and child exploitation in a rural, economically distressed county.

Performance occurs in Shelby, North Carolina through September 30, 2027. The recipient, County of Cleveland, North Carolina operating as Cleveland County Public Facilities Corp, is a parent entity receiving the award through its law enforcement department.

The cleveland county sheriffs office in north carolina is implementing common-sense policing strategies to combat rising violent crime, drug activity, and child exploitation in one of the states most economically distressed rural counties. To address these challenges, the sheriffs office is launching its first-ever undercover chat operations by acquiring the necessary technology and dedicating trained investigators to combat online child trafficking and abuse. School resource officers play a key role in prevention by building trust, educating youth, and intervening early, while partnerships with the child advocacy center, mental health providers, and community organizations offer critical support to both victims and officers.