Guilford County deputies spark law enforcement interest at Joyner Elementary career fair

Deputies from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Community Resource Unit brought law enforcement careers to Joyner Elementary School’s career fair, talking with students at a campus that serves pre-K through fifth grade and averages about 300 children.

The visit was more than a routine appearance. Guilford County says the Community Resource Unit is the Sheriff’s Office’s outreach arm, connecting deputies with the public through crime prevention, safety education and community programs. At Joyner, that work landed in front of elementary school students, the kind of audience public safety agencies increasingly court when they are trying to build familiarity, trust and a future hiring pool at the same time.

That matters in a county of roughly 537,000 residents spread across about 658 square miles, where the Sheriff’s Office says it employs more than 675 people and ranks among the largest sheriff’s offices in North Carolina. Youth-facing efforts have been part of that broader approach before. A Sheriff’s Youth Academy has been described by a department official as a way to inspire young people toward future careers in public safety, and the career fair fit that same long-term strategy.

Joyner itself is a familiar neighborhood institution. The school was built in 1955, added a 7,000-square-foot expansion in 1993 and received air conditioning in 1999. It also lists multiple PBIS honors and a 2014-2015 North Carolina State School of Character designation, underscoring a school culture that puts a premium on behavior, responsibility and civic growth. The school says its mission is to help students thrive academically, socially and emotionally, while creating an environment where children become self-directed learners and contributing citizens.

For families and educators, that makes the law enforcement presence more than a career display. It places deputies directly in a school setting where students are still forming ideas about public service, safety and the role of government in daily life. For the Sheriff’s Office, it is also a chance to be seen not only as an enforcement agency, but as a community institution trying to shape how the next generation views policing.

Groups interested in a future Community Resource Unit visit can contact Sgt. C. Stephens at 336-641-5313 or cstephe@guilfordcountync.gov.