Morning Minute: Friday, February 15, 2019

News About Town: If ever there were a case for “See something, say something” this is it. This past Wednesday (February 13) someone called the police department to alert them to a vehicle break-in near Independence Pointe Parkway. When officers arrived, they found the suspect, Kyahjay Kirkatrick of Charlotte. Kirkatrick had outstanding warrants for his arrest, but was also charged with vehicle break-in, possession of stolen goods, and carrying a concealed handgun.

News Around Town: On February 19, four Matthews churches - Matthews Baptist, Matthews Presbyterian, Matthews United Methodist, and Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist - are combining resources to host the next in a series of Community Forums on Racial-Bridge Building. WBTV's Tonya Rivens will moderate the discussion. Representatives from town staff, the Matthews Board of Commissioners, and housing professionals form the panel. Discussion will focus on the topic of affordable housing. Tuesday, February 19, 7:00 p.m., Brace Family YMCA, 3127 Weddington Rd.

One Good Thing:  If you don’t have kids in school but want to contribute to community schools, donate your Box Tops for Education. The labels, on many popular brands of food and household items, are worth ten cents each to schools. Most local elementary and middle schools have collection drives for the Box Top label. Just clip them, collect them, then drop them off in the school office. Box Tops for Education also has an app. Use the app on your smart phone to scan your receipt to collect bonus Box Tops. Of local schools participating, Elizabeth Lane Elementary leads with $808.10 in earnings, followed by Matthews with $657.30, and Crown Point with $258. Crestdale Middle has raised $153 while Mint Hill Middle has $0.

The Many Roles of Sargent Michelle Archer

“I’m a strong believer in God and this was God’s will, this was his plan - his way of saying, ‘this is where I need you right now.’ He opened the door; he paved the way, and I found success as a result of it. It has everything to do with my passion, my heart, and my strong will to make a difference.”

When Michelle Archer joined the Matthews Police Department 21 years ago, she entered the force as the first African-American woman hired as a sworn police officer for the town.

Her entrance, at age 31, was a long time coming, having dreamed of this pursuit as a teenager. “When I first decided to be a police officer, it was at the age of 16,” said Archer, 53. “[That’s] when a police officer came into school, and I saw how kids responded to that officer,” she said.

One of three children, born in San Diego, Archer did not go to college. “College was not something which was encouraged…it wasn’t something I knew much about,” she said. So, without further educational guidance, she went into the military, joining the United States Army where she served eight years as a telecommunication center specialist.

Upon military discharge, she began working for the Mecklenburg County Security Police Department. A sergeant took her under his wing and helped guide her into the realm of police work. In 1998, the Matthews Police Department came calling. And the rest, as they might say, is history.

“I like people. I’m a nurturer. I like helping people. When a person has a problem, I listen and I automatically jump into solution mode.”

— Sgt. Michelle Archer

Sgt. Archer during the Matthews Gives Back school supply drive and community cook out.

New to the force and patient to pay her dues, she soon had her sights on a School Resource Officer (SRO) position. “I like people. I’m a nurturer. I like helping people,” she said. “When a person has a problem, I listen and I automatically jump into solution mode. Law enforcement is the best way to do that, and for me, it was the easiest way to do that. I also wanted to work with kids.”

SRO work would give her both the “kids” and law enforcement pieces. It was God and her heart which were guiding her. “I follow my heart,” she said. “I try to do what’s right and I put all my faith and all my trust in him.”

“As an SRO, you are the single officer in the school,” Archer said. “I always liken it to ‘Marshall Dillon’ – you are the only police officer, the only person in the town in charge of enforcing the law. There is no backup, no sheriffs or deputies….you are it. Every investigation, every call-to-service that’s given out in your community, you are responsible for [it]. “

By year four, she had secured her dream job as the only Elementary School Resource Officer in the CMS school system. Four years later, the department promoted Archer to Butler High School, where she proudly stayed for 12 years - serving as “Mom.”

“I am a mentor, counselor; I’m a teacher…there’s a lot. For years, the kids haven’t referred to me as Officer Archer - they refer to me as Mom...I am to the kids and the school what their parents are at home.”

— Sgt. Michelle Archer

“I am a law enforcement officer. I am a parent to two of my own, but also of 2100 kids at Butler School,” she said proudly. “I am a mentor, counselor; I’m a teacher…there’s a lot. For years, the kids haven’t referred to me as Officer Archer - they refer to me as Mom. To this very day, I have kids who have graduated say ‘Mom!’ or ‘this is my Mom!’ I am to the kids and the school what their parents are at home.”

Coming to work every single day, Archer explained further, was just like coming home. “These are my kids; I love these kids. I feel like these are my kids that I am raising,” she said. “I may not have given birth to every single one of them, but I am nurturing them and raising every single one of them that walks through that door. And, I’ll do everything to protect and keep them safe…and everything I can to make sure they are successful in life – that’s what a parent does.”

In her work, Archer handled everything but a death investigation. “Everything that’s investigated out in the road, I have investigated in the schools,” said Archer. “What I’m doing in the schools is the same thing that the patrol officers are doing on the road. It’s just that I’m doing it in the schools and I’m the only one able to do it.”

While her time at school was both joyous and fulfilling, she has also experienced personal pain. “Our hearts get broken all the time,” said Archer. “I have cried when I’ve been arresting kids because you aren’t mad at them, you are disappointed – like a parent, and it breaks your heart. I tell them all the time that ‘you know I’m disappointed in you,’ as I’m arresting them. Or, I’m crying when I’m sitting with them waiting for the parents to come because I know that they are going to have big hoops to get through this…..bottom line is that I have a job to do, but I still love my kids.”

Sgt. Archer was recognized for her promotion during a 2017 Board of Commissioners meeting.

To add to her role, she has also attended many after-school and weekend sporting events both in and out of uniform. She has helped pay for food for the athletes; brought snacks for the team; accompanied them on away games. But, she clearly draws the line on a personal level. “No, I don’t hang out with them,” she said, stating that her relationships are like a parent to a child. However, she has become friends with some of the children’s parents.

Last year, the department promoted Archer to the rank of Sergeant. She now oversees four SROs and one DARE officer. Although the promotion left her full of gratitude and gratefulness, she quickly learned this position would directly remove her from the work and children she clearly loves.

“An SRO who has been in that school has been a fixture in that school,” she said. “Everyone knows them. You become that school – that staff, those parents’ personal police officer; the person who is going to keep them safe, the person who is going to protect them; and [in that environment] no other police officer exists. You become familiar, and those relationships are developed, and that rapport is developed, and you are ‘it.’"

“You are the only cop they know, even though you are not the only cop in town,” Archer said. “So when I go to [Butler High], I’m now not going to be that familiar face. That’s going to be hard. It’s already become hard. They no longer see Mom. That was really hard. That was really, really hard to get used to.”

After nearly two years in this new position, her return to Butler High is very bittersweet. “I still go to their graduations…I’m there to see them through….as they walk across that stage, I’m there at the bottom of that stage.” But, now, a new officer is taking her place. After this year, the remaining kids who knew her will have graduated and moved on. “I will accept my role as a supervisor and get to know them. But, I will not have the same role or respect from the kids that [the new officer] will have.”

Among the many other accomplishments in Archer’s life include eight years of serving in the North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers where she began as Regional Representative and rose through the ranks to President; she is now Immediate Past President. She is responsible for the creation of a comprehensive statewide network database of assigned NC School Resource Officers. As a direct result, there is now an SRO email contact database used by the officers, the Association, and the Department of Education.

Sgt. Archer served on the board of the North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers. Photo courtesy Matthews Police Department.

Since she will retire in less than two years, she sees her future as bright and knows there’s always more police work to do. “I want to keep working with kids, I want to keep working with schools!” said Archer. “I’m a strong believer in God and this was God’s will, this was his plan - his way of saying, ‘this is where I need you right now.’ He opened the door; he paved the way, and I found success as a result of it. It has everything to do with my passion, my heart, and my strong will to make a difference.”

The only caveat? If her daughters have kids. In that case, “I will become a full-time nanny to my grandkids!” she says with a laugh.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, December 19, 2018

News About Town: This past Monday the Board of Commissioners voted to rezone a 1.57-acre property (2018-690) on Matthews-Mint Hill Road. The property, owned by Novant, will be developed into medical office space. As part of the agreement, the Carolina Thread Trail will run through a portion of the campus, a portion of the campus may be used for the CATS Silver Line, and Novant will work with the Town of Matthews to complete Andrew Caroline Drive.

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News Around Town: ​DARE Officer Robert Holmes joined Mrs. Collier’s fifth-grade class at Matthews Elementary for the class party and those reindeer games (we’re assured Rudolph was invited to join in all of those). As of today CMS students are on winter break so breathe easy, commutes will go quicker for the next couple weeks. (Big ol’ thank you to Ginnie Mattes and Sara Mayse for sharing your photos!)

One Fun Thing: Looking for a fun gift for a Matthews lover? Get a Beacon mug for all your favorite people while supporting local journalism produced by local talent. Pair it with a bag of Matthews-roasted Magnolia Coffee for a merry Matthews gift.

Morning Minute: November 28, 2018

News About Town: If you’re driving through the Elizabeth Lane Elementary school zone, be aware of posted speeds. The Town has been examining ways to make traffic flow more smoothly through the area, especially during school hours. Aside from traditional approaches such as evaluating the pattern of movement for carpool drop-off and pick-up, the police department has been gathering data such as vehicle speed and safety at crosswalks. In an effort to ensure safety for families getting to and from school, additional signs and alerts will be posted. The Matthews Police Department is also increasing patrols to enforce the speed limit and crosswalk laws.

News Around Town: This Saturday marks the beginning of the winter hours for the Matthews Community Farmers’ Market. The market will have shorter hours from 8-10 AM, but many mainstays and favorite vendors will be selling through the colder months.

One Fun Thing: Show off your architectural skills with the Matthews Chamber of Commerce 9th Annual Gingerbread House Contest. Drop off your entry at the Chamber (210 Matthews Station Street) by 4:30 PM November 30 for judging on December 1. Judging will be separated into three categories: Amateur: Child/Family: 17 yrs or younger or family group that includes a child, Amateur: Adult: 18 yrs or older or any group of amateur adults, and Professional: Bakers, Chefs, Caterers, and Artists. Each category will be judged based on first impression, proportion, artistry, difficulty, and Matthews influence.

Morning Minute: October 18, 2018

News About Town: The Matthews Police have been working hard to keep our town safe. This past Tuesday Vice and Narcotics Detectives saw a drug deal occur outside a house on Newburg Lane. After the buyer left, officers pulled him over, found heroin then later returned to search the Newburg Lane home. Two men were arrested and charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

News Around Town: The Bellé Grille, 3022 Weddington Rd. Suite 100, is one of 17 restaurants participating in Charlotte Black Restaurant Week. The week-long celebration aims to bring new patrons and greater exposure to area black-owned restaurants. At the Bellé Grille, you can choose from entrees like fried chicken and red velvet waffles, the Belly Buster burger, or smoked turkey ribs among other options. Enjoy meals priced at $10 or $20 or $50 for two meals now through Sunday, October 21.

One Important Thing: Before you vote, get to know the six constitutional amendments on the ballot this year. When you get to the polls you’ll have chance to vote for or against each of the amendments. Many groups have weighed in on the amendments, including the National Association of Social Workers,  NC Center for Nonprofits, and NC Realtors.

Better Car Seat Safety Starts at the Police Station

Safety Facts *

Children under five years old, saved by car seats in 2015: 248 *

Cases in which children's car seats are used incorrectly: 59% *

Children under 13 who were not buckled up in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts, killed in car crashes in 2015: 35%

(Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA)

Did you know that North Carolina law requires that your children under eight years of age and weighing less than 80 lbs. should use a "Child Restraint Device" while riding in a car? (Children between 40 and 80 lbs. can use booster seats, while children under 40 lbs. are required to use a car seat).

Did you know that you should keep the seat rear-facing until your child is 20 lbs. or one year of age?

Did you know that you should never place a car seat in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), on average, a car seat reduces your child's risk for serious injury in a crash by 55%. Studies have shown that over 92% of car seats are installed incorrectly. In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children.

These are facts that many parents are unaware of. But, now there’s a solution:

To help ensure better safety, residents of Charlotte and surrounding communities can get their child car seats checked for free through the “Safe Kids” program held at a variety of locations throughout the state, including the Matthews Police Station (1201 Crews Road), Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. It is one of the few remaining free car seat checks available weekly throughout the year.

Individuals need not bring their children, just a car/booster seat. (Through donations, car seats are available for those referred through social services, etc.)  Inspections are completed by Child Passenger Safety Seat technicians and take approximately 20 minutes.  According to Tim Aycock, Community Resource and Public Information Officer, the department handles between 900-1100 checks per year; busiest time of year is around Thanksgiving when even visiting grandparents and relatives request help.

Photos by Cyma Shapiro

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) policy statement includes the following five recommendations for optimal car safety:

1. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the seat's manufacturer.

2. All children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car safety seat should use a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the seat's manufacturer.

3. All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

4. When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection.

5. All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.