Police and Public Safety at UNC Pembroke has received multiple awards recognizing their tremendous efforts to serve the campus and community during recent Hurricane Florence.

The department received the North Carolina Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Award for Valor and was awarded special recognition from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.



North Carolina Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (NCACLEA) awarded the department an Award of Valor. NCACLEA represents a specialty field of policing directed to meeting the law enforcement, security and public safety needs of the diverse and ever-changing campus community.



“As chief of UNC Pembroke Police and Public Safety, I am really proud of the department. Officers stepped up in UNCP's time of need during Hurricane Florence ensuring the campus community was safe and secure while hiding worry about their families and homes. These officers demonstrated what it means to be a police officer,” stated Chief Mcduffie Cummings.



The NCACLEA Award of Valor was presented for acts that are above and beyond the call of duty requiring personal physical risk, heroism or prevented loss of life.

The Police and Public Safety team spent more than 400 collective hours of service over the course of 12 days protecting the campus of UNC Pembroke during Hurricane Florence. Those hours were spent constantly monitoring buildings and roads, and keeping boots on the ground to deliver meals and provisions to students. Every waking hour was spent ensuring safety to those stranded, and partnering with local law enforcement agencies to help the surrounding area.



“Friends and family of the university were directly impacted by the valor of UNC Pembroke’s officers as they extended their reach from the campus needs to those of the community by working with volunteers from near and far who flocked to the area to provide relief assistance,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety and Emergency Operations, R. Travis Bryant. “We couldn’t be more proud or thankful for the dedication of this team.”



The department was also awarded recognition by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). This international organization is the leading authority for the campus public safety profession. IACLEA advances public safety for educational institutions by providing educational resources, advocacy and professional development services.



The organization provided the recognition in order to thank the UNC Pembroke Police and Public Safety department for their outstanding service to keep the community safe during the disaster of Hurricane Florence in 2018.



“These officers on duty didn’t simply do their jobs or exceed expectations with extreme devastation pouring down on their campus - they did the right thing based off their instinct of valor. For this, they are worthy of endless gratitude and recognition,” continued Chief Cummings.