WCC Police Department

The Wilkes Community College (WCC) Police Department is responsible for helping provide a safe and secure learning environment for all WCC students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The WCC Police Department is a sanctioned, full-service law enforcement agency. Sworn WCC Police Officers have full powers of arrest within the jurisdictional areas of the campus and adjoining streets or highways. They receive their agency commission and authority via NC General Statutes. In addition to the sworn police personnel, WCCPD employs and utilizes non-sworn security officers to provide for the physical security of WCC facilities and enforcement of campus parking and driving policy and assist with providing traffic control and security for special events on campus.

For 24/7 assistance, please call:
336-838-6275

Campus Parking and Driving Policy

This policy applies to all individuals who operate a motor vehicle on the Wilkes Campus, including Herring Hall, of Wilkes Community College. All persons desiring to park motor vehicles on campus are required to display a WCC parking permit. To obtain a parking permit, visit the Business Office.

Parking on campus is controlled through the designation of lots and spaces for groups and individuals. These designations shall be published periodically and noted, where appropriate, on or near parking lots and spaces.

  1. Disabled Parking. (Marked with blue lines.) Parking spaces shall be provided for persons who are physically impaired and drive vehicles with handicapped tags issued by the State of North Carolina. Unauthorized vehicles parking in designated handicapped parking spaces are subject to citation.
  2. Visitor Parking. (Marked with orange lines or appropriate signage.) Parking spaces shall be provided for persons visiting the campus. Unauthorized vehicles parking in designated visitors’ parking spaces (including registered students, whether attending class or not) are subject to citation.
  3. Reserved Parking. (Marked with yellow lines.) Parking spaces shall be provided for participants of special activities. These include, but are not limited to, trustees, faculty and staff, auto body, automotive, college service vehicles, and construction (not for students attending class).
  4. Parking Decal. Students and employees shall be issued a parking decal to park on campus. Parking decals must be displayed on vehicles as specified by the instructions provided with the decal.
  5. Special Parking Permit. Special parking permits are issued by the Business Office for individuals who have special parking needs. These permits may be used to park in “faculty/staff” spaces – not disabled spaces. Special parking permits shall be limited to the length of illness or one semester but may be renewable.
  6. Improper Parking. Vehicles parked improperly are subject to fine. Improper parking includes, but is not limited to, taking two or more spaces, blocking loading docks/sidewalks, parking where curb is painted yellow, and parking on grass or other ungraveled areas.
  7. Parking Citations. The college’s campus police and security officers are authorized to issue parking citations to those persons who violate parking regulations. Parking fines shall be set by the board of trustees upon recommendation from the president. All parking fines must be paid before the student will be allowed to register for the next semester, graduate, or be issued an official transcript.
  8. Grace Period. At the beginning of each fall semester, there shall be a grace period of five class days when no parking tickets shall be issued. Warning tickets will be issued. Exception: parking tickets may be issued during the grace period for violations that appear to the officer to be intentional or flagrant.
  9. Parking after 5 p.m. and on Weekends. With the following exceptions, parking after 5 p.m. and on weekends is open on a first come basis. The exceptions are handicapped and reserved spaces as identified by appropriate signs and spaces near the John A. Walker Community Center, which may be reserved from time to time for events that take place within the center.
  10. Overnight Parking. Vehicles are not to be left on campus overnight except in circumstances when overnight business travel is required. When this is the case, campus police are to be notified of the day(s) the vehicle will remain on campus. Generally, vehicles will be parked in the lot(s) contiguous to the WCC Visitor Center. The college assumes no liability for the security of said vehicles. In no case are vehicles to be left on campus for extended periods. Violations may result in the towing of the vehicle at the owner’s expense.
  11. Habitual Offenders. Repeated violations of the traffic rules and regulations by students may result in disciplinary action, including probation or suspension from the college.

The posted speed limit on all campus roads is 15 miles per hour. All persons driving on the campus shall be responsible for operating their vehicle within the posted speed limit and in a manner that will not endanger individuals or personal property.

  1. Speeding and Reckless Driving. The college’s campus police and security officers are authorized to issue citations to those persons who violate campus driving regulations by speeding or driving recklessly as determined by the officer issuing the citation.
  2. Driving Ticket Fines. Fines shall be set by the board of trustees upon recommendation from the president. All driving fines must be paid before the student will be allowed to register for the next semester, graduate, or be issued an official transcript.
  3. Loud Music or Excessive Noise. The college’s campus police and security officers are authorized to issue citations to those persons who willfully create a disruption to college operations by the emission of loud music or excessive noise as determined by the officer issuing the citation.

The Vice President of Instruction/Student Services shall maintain guidelines for the appeal of tickets, which shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Appeals may be made in written form and/or in person within 96 hours.
  2. An officer who has written a citation in error may appeal the ticket directly.
  3. No citation will be voided until reviewed by the appeals process.
  4. The recipient of any violation shall have the right to be present during the presentation of evidence, to cross-examine all witnesses, and to present evidence.
Campus Parking/Driving Ticket Appeal Form

All fines are payable in the Business Office. All fines must be paid before students will be allowed to register for the next semester, before they graduate, or before transcripts are sent.

Effective January 1, 2014, parking fines are increased for subsequent violations of the same offenses in the same school year.

Violation First Offense Subsequent Offenses
Unauthorized Parking – Disabled $100 $100
Unauthorized Parking – Faculty/Staff $10 $25
Unauthorized Parking – Visitor $10 $25
Unauthorized Parking – Reserved $10 $25
Other Parking Violations $10 $25
Speeding / Reckless Driving $10 $25
Noise Ordinance (Loud Music) $10 $25
Littering $10 $25

Weapons and Explosive Devices

North Carolina General Statute 14-269.2 prohibits the possession on any Wilkes Community College property or at any Wilkes Community College activity, whether openly or concealed, any firearm (except as permitted in House Bill 937), incendiary device, explosive, or any weapon, except in connection with a college-approved instructional activity. This also includes unauthorized use of any instrument capable of inflicting bodily injury to any person.

Under House Bill 937, a firearm is permissible on a community college campus only under the following limited circumstances:

  1. The firearm is a handgun; AND
  2. The individual has a valid concealed handgun permit or is exempt from the law requiring a permit; AND
  3. The handgun remains in either: a closed compartment or container within the individual with the permit’s locked vehicle; or a locked container securely affixed to the individual with the permit’s locked vehicle; AND
  4. The vehicle is only unlocked when the individual with the permit is entering or exiting the vehicle; AND
  5. The firearm remains in the closed compartment at all times.

It remains illegal to bring a rifle or shotgun or any other weapon (firearms, explosives, BB guns, stun guns, air rifle or pistol, and certain types of knives or other sharp instruments) on campus.

If you have questions, please contact:

Image of Earl Byrd
Earl Byrd, MS
Chief of Police
Phone: 336-838-6481
Fax: 336-903-3168
vebyrd213@wilkescc.edu

Campus Alert Notification System

Wilkes Community College’s emergency notification system approach is based on redundancy, using multiple methods to reach members of the college community with information as quickly and accurately as possible.

  • Campus-wide Phones and Speakers: WCC will issue primary alerts using the college’s alarm system, the phones located in classrooms, offices, stairwells and other public locations, and the speaker system.
  • Text Messaging: WCC alert message may also be sent to the mobile devices of WCC students, faculty and staff who register their mobile numbers to receive WCC alerts through the Campus Alert Notification System.
    • For parents and community to receive WCC text alerts, text WCCALERTS to 226787.
  • Media: Regular updates regarding campus closing and other emergency information will be provided to the news media. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to consult local media broadcasts particularly during inclement weather.
  • Web Alerts: WCC will post alert messages on the college home page.
  • Social Networks: WCC will post alert messages and updates to the college’s official Facebook page and Twitter account.
  • Email: Depending on the nature and location of an emergency situation, WCC may send an alert message to all students, faculty and staff at their WCC email accounts using the Campus Alert Notification System.

SELF: Active Shooter Response

SELF is a series of sequential steps that will help protect you and others in the event of an on-campus emergency involving an active shooter.

  1. Survey: Be aware of your surroundings, where you are, and what is available if you need to make yourself safe and assist others to safety.
  2. Evacuate: If you can leave the area of danger, do it. As soon as you are safe, call or text 9-1-1 and alert authorities.
  3. Lock-Down: If you cannot leave the area of danger, make your space inaccessible to the danger by safely locking or securing doors. After securing the space, move to an area out of sight. Turn off the lights, close any blinds, and silence cell phones. Though being quiet is important, it is still necessary to call 9-1-1. Do this in a low voice or with a text.
  4. Fight Back: Only confront the aggressor if you are in immediate danger and have no other option. Backpacks, books, water bottles, coffee cups, or similar sized items can be thrown at the aggressor. If the weapon is separated from the aggressor, put any large item over the weapon, such as a trash can or backpack. If it becomes necessary, it is important that you resist forcefully and however possible.