Someone from the local FOP needs to explain to the public and all potential officers from out of state thinking of coming to North Carolina, what protections they have here as police officer and deputy sheriffs, (NONE). A woman in the local newspaper made a comment as to why Mark Thigpen is not making a statement and if he was wronged, why is he not fighting back, or doing something about it. The woman does not understand that officers have no recourse in North Carolina when dismissed. There is NO civil service, bargaining union, arbitration, nothing, you are at the mercy of the elected officials. The next Chief of Police who takes a job at Murphy police department better have a contract, or he is a real fool! For all the outsiders, take note, all Florida officers that have come here in the past for police work have been run-off, or fired. Those that are still here were losers from Florida looking for something easier and will not attempt to make change that will jeopardize their jobs. In a nut shell, because officers have no protection, they work in fear continuously of being fired, therefore they will never report misconduct, or do the right thing when it come right down to it.