Carolinas Organized Retail Crime Alliance Hosts 9th Annual Conference

Law enforcement officers and retail loss prevention professionals from across North and South Carolina came together at the Hilton Charlotte Airport Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, October 3 for the 9th Annual Conference of the Carolinas Organized Retail Crime Alliance (CORCA). CORCA, managed by the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association, is a collaborative effort between retailers and law enforcement to reduce organized retail crime.

Nearly 200 participants were welcomed to the event by CORCA Vice President Michael Rimiller, LPC, major crimes investigations manager for Walgreens. Retail attendees represented chain stores to one-store operations and included grocery, apparel, pharmacy, beauty, home improvement, and general merchandise. Law enforcement officers from police and sheriff’s departments across the Carolinas, as well as district attorneys, were also active participants.

Expert speakers covered a wide range of topics including North and South Carolina legislative updates, Homeland Security Investigations, connecting vehicle crimes and ORC, key takeaways in the shift from law enforcement to private sector, and prosecutor perspectives in the Carolinas. Attendees also heard from multiple panels of speakers that included federal, state, and local law enforcement and retailers from North and South Carolina sharing their firsthand knowledge of current organized retail crime trends, the methods learned to deter further loss, and the importance for law enforcement and retail to continue to build a strong information sharing network.

Kicking off the afternoon sessions was the awards presentation for the 2024 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for both North and South Carolina. Officer Fred Sibby was named the 2024 North Carolina Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. With almost five years of law enforcement experience, Officer Sibby is with the Gastonia Police Department and has been a part of more than 15 ORC investigations over the last year, including playing an integral part in a large-scale investigation that dismantled one of the largest organized retail theft operations that spanned throughout the district.

Investigator Ronnie Horn was named the 2024 South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer of the Year; he also won the award in 2023. Beginning his law enforcement career in 1978, Investigator Horn is currently assigned to the Investigative Division with the Spartanburg Police Department and is a strong partner to collaborate with other jurisdictions in large-scale and repeated thefts. Both officers were commended for their partnerships with retailers and commitment to identifying organized retail crime operations, apprehending those responsible to hold them accountable and recovering stolen property.

This year, CORCA also presented a special award to recognize a federal partner who has been integral in the Carolinas in combatting ORC. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Willie Carswell was named the 2024 CORCA Federal Partner. Special Agent Carswell has been continuously instrumental in the successful identification, investigation, disruption, and dismantling of major criminal organizations in the Carolinas.

Included in the special awards ceremony were members of the North Carolina General Assembly and a member of the South Carolina State House, recognized as CORCA’s 2024 Legislative Champions for their bipartisan efforts and diligent work in helping sponsor and pass legislation to combat ORC. Members from the North Carolina General Assembly that were present to accept their awards were Representative Kevin Crutchfield (R- Cabarrus, Rowan) and Representative Robert Reives (D- Chatham, Randolph).

Many of the award winners were working through storm response efforts from Hurricane Helene which prevented them from attending. Additional award recipients recognized included Senators Danny Britt (R- Robeson, Hoke, Scotland), Dave Craven (R- Anson, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Union), Tom McInnis (R- Cumberland, Moore), and Buck Newton (R- Greene, Wayne, Wilson) from the North Carolina Senate. Award recipients recognized from the North Carolina House of Representatives were Charles Miller (R-Brunswick, New Hanover), Carson Smith (R-Pender, Onslow), Dudley Greene (R-McDowell, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey), and Reece Pyrtle (R- Rockingham). Recognized from South Carolina was Representative Jeff Johnson (R-Horry).

During breaks from the educational sessions and award presentations, attendees visited vendor exhibits. Vendor company representatives explained and demonstrated some of the newest product innovations, services, and educational resources to assist retailers and law enforcement in preventing ORC and apprehending offenders. CORCA was thrilled to have participation from inVue, Motorola Solutions, Auror, 3Si, AJ2 Security, and AXIS Communications.

CORCA is grateful for its partnerships and depends on the support of sponsors and vendor partners to offer an outstanding conference as well as other benefits throughout the year.

The 10th Annual CORCA Conference will be September 24-25, 2025, at the Hilton Myrtle Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Stay tuned to www.corca.org to find out more details.