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RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — The Rutherford County Department of Social Services (DSS) board met Wednesday, August 20, under unusual circumstances: Chairman Leon Godlock was out of the country on vacation, and board member Suzanne Porter was absent for reasons not explained. Vice Chair Georgia Steele presided in Godlock’s absence, joined by members David Herndon and Sydney Pellegrini. DSS Director Dee Hunt participated remotely while attending a statewide conference. Other DSS staff members joined the meeting.
While much of the agenda covered budgets and staffing updates, the meeting’s most striking revelations came during a discussion of DSS security. A retired sheriff’s deputy now contracted as a security officer detailed serious vulnerabilities, including the lack of surveillance cameras inside DSS facilities. His assessment raised urgent questions about how the agency protects staff, children, and families who visit on a daily basis.
Top Ten Security Takeaways
No Cameras on Site — DSS buildings lack surveillance cameras, a gap that has left even board members surprised.
Homeless Drop-Offs — A bus stop near DSS serves as a daily drop-off point for individuals from the local homeless shelter, leaving them unsupervised until evening pickup.
Contracted Security Staffed by Retired Deputies — Former sheriff’s deputies now provide on-site coverage, armed and radio-connected to the sheriff’s office.
Authority to Act — Security officers can detain suspects in felony situations, using pepper spray, batons, or handcuffs if necessary, though transport must be handled by deputies.
Body Cameras Activated — DSS obtained two Axon body cameras now tied into the sheriff’s digital evidence system, ensuring incidents are securely logged and stored.
Probation Relocation Looms — DSS has relied heavily on nearby probation officers to respond to disturbances. Their expected move-out will heighten dependence on dedicated security.
Daily Logs Shared — Security maintains both paper and digital logs of patrols, building checks, and incidents, a level of transparency welcomed by the board.
Future Recommendations Coming — A full security assessment will be presented at the September meeting, with cameras and expanded surveillance topping the list of needs.
What’s Next
The DSS board will receive a formal security report at its next meeting, outlining fixes for the vulnerabilities now public. Meanwhile, Director Hunt is scheduled to brief the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners on September 8 about policy changes, including Medicaid expansion and SNAP benefits, but security remains one of the most immediate issues for a department already stretched thin.
One additional concern: while the August meeting was livestreamed by county staff, the video is not posted on the county website. In past months, I have had to request the footage when I was unable to watch live. This gap in public access underscores the very reason I launched Cops & Congress — because facts and local news matter in real-time.
You may read the agenda documents on my DocumentCloud.
