http://66.225.205.104/JR20100716a.mp3
The Commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol has resigned, barely one week into a reform effort of the troubled agency. In the last two years at least nine North Carolina Highway Patrolmen have resigned or been dismissed for misconduct, often involving sex or alcohol. Governor Bev Perdue talked tough last week when she demanded an end to the embarrassing behavior. But she shocked many by refusing to clean house in the patrol's upper ranks. Instead, she expressed full confidence in Patrol Commander Randy Glover, who also happens to be her long-time friend. "Colonel Glover got to where he was in the patrol because of his record and his excellence and his willingness to serve," said Perdue. "I trust both the colonel and the secretary to fix this mess." Immediately Glover and the Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety embarked on a two-week tour of the state, requiring every member of the patrol to sign a code of conduct. But political watchdog and former Democratic Party strategist Joe Sinsheimer says that's done little to improve the patrol's image. "I think most people saw the commander's tour and this new code of ethics as nothing more than a superficial effort to try and deal with the media storm that surrounded the governor and Commander Glover's very poor press conference a week ago," says Sinsheimer. At that press conference, Glover blamed the media for blowing the patrol's problems out of proportion and Governor Perdue became agitated when questioned about her role in getting Glover promoted. Perdue's office will not say whether the governor asked Glover to resign and Colonel Glover refuses to comment, as well. The governor said in a statement she will announce a team of outside advisors next week to work on finding a new patrol commander. Sinsheimer and other critics hope to see a national search for the job, but state law requires the commander to be hired from within the Highway Patrol's ranks.