Col. Randy Glover was sworn in as the 24th commander of the N.C. Highway Patrol this morning in a formal ceremony at the Old State Capitol.

Gov. Beverly Perdue praised Glover, 49, as a dedicated trooper she had watched rise through the ranks for years, from the time he was assigned in 1987 to patrol the roads around her hometown in New Bern, reports Michael Biesecker.

"He can lead by example," Perdue said. "The standard to be a state trooper is so high. I believe Randy Glover will maintain that high standard."

Glover is a 29 year veteran of the patrol, which has been beset in recent months with questions over trooper conduct and controversial personnel decisions. He has already ordered a review of the patrol’s management practices and new ethics training for all supervisors.

"I will not be swayed by special interest," Glover said. "I will not yield to personal agendas, private vices or political pressures. I will not embarrass the governor’s office, the department that I work for, or the citizens of this great state. My promise is to instill a sense of pride I hope will spread throughout this organization. If my flame dims and I am not capable … I will step aside and relinquish my position."

Glover replaces Col. Walter J. Wilson Jr., who announced his retirement in June after only one year in the top job.

State Highway Patrol Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. has cancelled his retirement dinner.

Wilson sent a brief e-mail to Sgt. Clarence Stephens on Tuesday that offered little explanation for the cancellation. Stephens had sent notice to invitees the previous Friday.

"After further consideration, I have decided to cancel the retirement dinner on 24 July," Wilson wrote.

The dinner was supposed to have been held at the downtown Raleigh Sheraton at a cost of $28 per person.

Wilson announced last month that he was retiring to spend more time with his family after a year leading the 1,800 member patrol. Within days, Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed Lt. Col. Randy Glover as Wilson's successor. Glover takes over Aug. 1.

Last week, Wilson's brother-in-law, Michael Madras of Raleigh, said the retirement was not planned. He said that Wilson had been forced out so Perdue could replace him with someone she wanted. Perdue, Wilson, Glover and other officials have declined to discuss the change in leadership.

Wilson could not be reached. Patrol spokesman Capt. Everett Clendenin said Wilson will not be in the office much this month. He is using accrued vacation days to finish out his remaining time.

The official story is State Highway Patrol Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. decided to retire after a year on the job to spend more time with his family. That created the need for a successor, and Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed a lieutenant colonel, Randy Glover, to the post this week.

But Wilson's brother-in-law said in an interview that story is not true. Wilson was forced out, Michael Madras said, because Perdue had someone else in mind for the state's top cop.

Madras said he learned this from Wilson himself minutes after Wilson attended a meeting with Reuben Young, whom Perdue appointed to run the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Young told Wilson at that meeting June 22, just after Wilson returned from Disney World in Orlando with his family, that he needed to step down.

"He went on vacation and came back, and his boss says, the governor wants you gone," Madras said.

Wilson works at the patrol's headquarters, but he lives in Greenville, so during the workweek he often stays at the home of Madras and his wife, Penny, Wilson's sister. They live in Raleigh.

The alternative version of events leading to Glover's promotion raises questions that Perdue, Young, Wilson and Glover would not discuss. All declined through spokesmen to be interviewed.

Chrissy Pearson, Perdue's press secretary, would not say whether Perdue wanted Wilson out. Pearson also declined to say whether Perdue had sought to promote Glover into the job. (N&O)

Col. Walter J. Wilson Jr., a native of Tarboro, has served on the state Highway Patrol since 1980 when he was first assigned to Troop C, District III, in Raleigh.

He was appointed by former Gov. Mike Easley and sworn in as colonel last July to be teh patrol's 23rd commander.

"Col. Wilson has served the Highway Patrol honorably during his 29 years of service to the state of North Carolina," said Reuben Young, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, in a statement. "We appreciate his dedication and commitment to highway safety."

"I have never regretted my career choice," Wilson wrote in a letter to the patrol. "As colonel I have worked hard to make things better for all employees. "

The text of his letter after the jump.

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State Highway Patrol Capt. Alan Melvin headed up the special protection detail for Gov. Mike Easley for years, but is now assigned to an information technology job at the patrol.

That's why a reporter was curious to see Melvin show up earlier this year at the Raleigh home of Easley.

The date was Feb. 18 — a Wednesday — and Melvin pulled up around 2 p.m. He carried a package to the door with him. He left without it, reports Andy Curliss.

That date was the same day that the state Highway Patrol informed The News & Observer that it would begin providing flight records relating to Easley, saying some would be available the next day.

The newspaper had long sought the records and one result of their release was a two-part series published Saturday and Sunday. The report showed, in part, that the Highway Patrol has gaps in its records. For example, there are no records from 2005.

Back in February, at the time of Melvin's visit to the Easley home, the paper immediately wanted to talk with Melvin. Through a spokesman, Capt. Everett Clendenin, Melvin declined to speak numerous times. But at the request of the paper, Clendenin asked Melvin about his visit. Melvin denied being at the Easley home that day, according to Clendenin.

The schedule shows Melvin was on duty that day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is not clear when he took lunch.

The N&O then asked the commander of the patrol, Col. Walter Wilson, about the visit.

Wilson inquired and later reported back that Melvin said he had been there — and he was there to drop off some "personal items."

Last week, The N&O asked Wilson about the discrepancy in Melvin's stories. Patrol policy requires a member to be "truthful and complete in all written and oral communications, reports, and testimony."

Wilson said he didn't know why there was a difference. Moments later, Clendenin phoned the newspaper and put Melvin on the line.

Excerpts from the exchange, after the jump.

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The Humane Society of the United States is applauding the N.C. State Highway Patrol's decision to disband its canine unit and build a new one that does not use aggressive training tactics and solely uses dogs for sniffing out narcotics.

N.C. Crime Control Secretary Bryan Beatty and patrol Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. announced the plan on Monday, Dan Kane reports.

"We commend Secretary Beatty and Colonel Wilson for working to ensure  that all dogs employed by the North Carolina Highway Patrol are treated in a humane manner, and that all officers who handle these animals are fully and properly trained," said Amanda Arrington, the society's North Carolina state director.

The patrol suspended the unit after testimony in a personnel hearing seven months ago showed that troopers were using harsh training tactics such as swinging and suspending dogs by their leads, shocking them with stun guns and throwing plastic bottles filled with pebbles at them.

The hearing was held to determine if Sgt. Charles L. Jones should get his job back.

More after the jump.

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The N.C. Highway Patrol is tightening the system for calling wreckers to crash scenes after complaints about price gouging, snarly tow truck drivers and even stolen money.

Highway Patrol officials told the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee Thursday that motorists complained that tow truck operators, called to the scene by troopers, were tacking on a host of added charges, such as a fee for sweeping up taillight glass, as well as treating car owners disrespectfully and, in some cases, stealing items out of cars.

"The public holds the highway patrol accountable for what happens at that accident scene," Col. Walter Wilson, the patrol's commander, told the committee.

Wilson emphasized that the patrol's first priority is safety.

More after the jump.

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The N.C. Highway Patrol will have its first female major and section head next month.

Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. is promoting Capt. Jennifer Harris to lead the patrol’s training academy, Dan Kane reports. She currently is commander of Troop D in Greensboro and has been with the patrol since 1989.

The promotion is among several moves that Wilson is making as he settles in as patrol leader. Some have taken effect; the rest are set for Sept. 8.

Other moves include transferring Maj. Wellington Scott from the Technical Support Unit, which handles information technology and troop logistics, to the Office of Professional Standards, which includes internal affairs. Capt. Randy Campbell is being promoted to major in charge of motor carrier enforcement and special operations.

Patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin is being promoted to captain and he is also taking over the patrol's Traffic Safety Information Unit. Others being promoted to captain include Lt. Tim Belch in internal affairs, Lt. Chris Phillips in administrative services and Lt. David McCoy, who will lead Troop D.

Earlier this week, the patrol had confirmed that Maj. Gregory Hayes had been transferred from Troop Operations, which oversees much of the patrol’s day-to-day duties, to lead the Technical Support Unit, and that Capt. Mike T. James, who leads Troop G based in Asheville, is being promoted to major and will run Troop Operations.

Maj. Randy Glover has been running Troop Operations in the interim, but he is being promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Recently-appointed N.C. Highway Patrol Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. has made two changes in his command structure.

Maj. Gregory Hayes is shifting from Troop Operations, which oversees much of the patrol's day-to-day duties, to lead the Technical Support Unit, which handles information technology and troop logistics, reports Dan Kane.

Capt. Mike T. James, who leads Troop G based in Asheville, is being promoted to major and will replace Hayes on Sept. 8.

Patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin said in an e-mail message that Wilson made the change to allow Hayes and James "to grow as managers by expanding their knowledge in other patrol sections."

More after the jump.

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