North Carolina Governor Reveals Plan to Boost Police and Fight Fentanyl

In a packed conference hall in Raleigh, North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein addressed the state's sheriffs, praising their courage and outlining a plan to equip them better. Speaking at the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association’s spring meeting on April 28, 2025, Stein unveiled a public safety strategy woven into his 2025-2027 budget proposal. The plan tackles pressing challenges: a shrinking law enforcement workforce, the deadly fentanyl trade, and a backlog of unsolved crimes.

Stein’s focus comes at a time when communities across the state, and the nation, grapple with rising demands for safety and strained police resources. His proposals aim to balance immediate needs, like hiring more officers, with long-term goals, such as cracking cold cases and curbing opioid trafficking. The governor’s speech struck a chord with sheriffs, who face daily pressures from understaffed departments and evolving crime trends.

The budget, totaling $67.9 billion, allocates significant funds to public safety, reflecting a broader trend among states to address staffing shortages and drug-related crime. Yet, Stein’s approach has sparked discussion about how best to support law enforcement while ensuring accountability and addressing systemic issues. The debate underscores a national tension over policing priorities.

For North Carolinians, the stakes are tangible. Families want safer streets, faster police response times, and answers for unresolved crimes. Stein’s plan seeks to deliver on these fronts, but its success hinges on legislative approval and effective implementation.

Law enforcement agencies in North Carolina, like those nationwide, are struggling to fill their ranks. A 2024 survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that U.S. police departments are operating at 91% of authorized staffing levels, with recruitment growing tougher. North Carolina’s agencies are no exception, facing increased retirements and resignations since 2020, compounded by a competitive job market and public scrutiny of policing.

Stein’s budget proposes over $30 million annually for raises for state law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and youth counselors. It also includes signing bonuses for graduates of Basic Law Enforcement Training programs to attract new recruits and out-of-state transfers. These measures aim to reverse the staffing decline, which has led to longer response times and reduced specialized services in some communities.

However, some argue that financial incentives alone won’t solve the problem. Law enforcement advocates point to the need for improved working conditions and public perception of policing. Others, including community leaders, emphasize the importance of reforms to rebuild trust, such as better training and transparency. Stein’s plan nods to these concerns with funding for body cameras and emergency responder communications, but the balance between recruitment and reform remains a point of contention.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid far deadlier than heroin, has fueled a devastating public health crisis. In 2023, it was linked to 69% of fatal drug overdoses in the U.S., with North Carolina hit hard by rising overdose deaths. Stein’s budget proposes a Fentanyl Control Unit to investigate and disrupt trafficking networks, alongside $10 million annually for opioid prevention in correctional facilities and new positions for drug agents and prosecutors.

Recent data shows progress, with a 25% drop in fatal overdoses nationwide over the past year, partly due to enhanced border security and international cooperation. North Carolina has joined these efforts, with state law enforcement seizing significant quantities of fentanyl in 2025. Yet, the drug’s potency and the adaptability of trafficking networks pose ongoing challenges, requiring sustained investment and coordination.

Some stakeholders, including public health experts, argue for a broader approach that pairs enforcement with harm reduction, like expanding access to overdose-reversal drugs. Others, including law enforcement leaders, stress the need for harsher penalties to deter traffickers. Stein’s plan leans heavily on enforcement but includes prevention measures, reflecting an attempt to address both supply and demand.

Stein’s budget also earmarks funds for a Cold Case Unit focused on unsolved sexual assault cases, a move that resonates with victims’ families seeking closure. Cold case investigations often languish due to limited resources, with many agencies lacking dedicated units. Nationally, only one in five cold cases is resolved, but advances in DNA technology and forensic databases have improved outcomes.

The proposed unit would leverage these tools, hiring experienced investigators to revisit evidence and pursue new leads. Federal grants, like those from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, have supported similar efforts elsewhere, yielding DNA matches and convictions. In North Carolina, the unit could bring justice to victims and remove offenders from communities, but its success depends on consistent funding and staffing.

Victims’ advocates praise the initiative but caution that it must prioritize survivor support alongside investigations. Law enforcement officials, meanwhile, highlight the challenge of balancing cold case work with pressing daily demands. Stein’s proposal aims to bridge these needs, but its impact will depend on how resources are allocated and prioritized.

Stein’s public safety plan unfolds against a backdrop of national debates over policing and funding. Some policymakers advocate for increased police budgets tied to reforms, like banning chokeholds or improving transparency. Others, skeptical of federal involvement, push for local control and fiscal restraint, as seen in recent Republican proposals to cut programs like Community Oriented Policing Services. North Carolina’s budget avoids tax hikes, aiming for fiscal responsibility while boosting safety investments.

Community voices add complexity to the discussion. Urban residents often demand faster police response and accountability, while rural areas prioritize access to law enforcement services. Stein’s inclusion of school safety grants and behavioral threat assessment training reflects an effort to address diverse needs, but satisfying all stakeholders is no small feat.

As North Carolina’s legislature reviews Stein’s budget, the state stands at a crossroads. The proposed investments in staffing, fentanyl interdiction, and cold case work signal a commitment to public safety, but their effectiveness will depend on execution and broader support. For residents, the promise of safer communities and justice for victims hangs in the balance.

The challenges Stein seeks to address are not unique to North Carolina. Across the U.S., states are grappling with similar issues, searching for solutions that balance enforcement, prevention, and community trust. The outcome of these efforts will shape not only public safety but also the relationship between law enforcement and the people they serve.