Law Enforcement Leaders Discuss Technology and Health Concerns at Roundtable
On Wednesday, a critical roundtable was held in Winston-Salem, focusing on crime-related challenges. Organized by Gov. Josh Stein, the session gathered leading law enforcement figures from several local areas to tackle pressing issues.
The meeting saw participation from Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville police chiefs, alongside sheriffs from Forsyth and Guilford counties. A significant topic of discussion was the financial burden of advanced crime-fighting tools.
Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough highlighted efforts to mitigate these costs through efficient use of collected data. The county’s real-time crime center exemplifies this approach by leveraging video surveillance to track incidents, with this data now being shared across neighboring agencies.
“So we have entered into an agreement where we are sharing cameras so I can see what’s happening in Greensboro, they can see what’s happening in Winston, Kernersville,” Kimbrough stated. “That helps us by sharing information, sharing data and sharing the intel.”
Beyond technology, the absence of adequate mental health and homelessness resources was a significant concern. Gov. Stein pointed out the ramifications of Medicaid budget cuts on behavioral health for law enforcement.
“The legislature’s failure to fully fund Medicaid means that the state cannot pay providers of mental health care services what they deserve,” he emphasized. “Which means that fewer providers will do this work, which means that there will be more people who can’t get access to service. It’s a terrible step backwards.”
Stein indicated his willingness to approve a revised Medicaid funding bill, should it be presented to him by the legislature in the coming week.
