Joseph Conover addresses the Raleigh City Council

Many businesses utilize private security companies to patrol, prevent burglaries, etc. In North Carolina, “private police” have the same arrest powers as government police:

In North Carolina, private police are certified company police agencies governed by the North Carolina Department of Justice chapter 74E of the Company Police Act. Under 74E Company Police in North Carolina can, and do make arrests, and write citations for violations of the law the same as any municipal police officer. Company Police jurisdiction is on any real property that they own, possess and control, or have been contracted to protect by the owner or person in control, unless they are in continuous pursuit for a crime that was committed in their jurisdiction or investigating a crime that occurred in their jurisdiction. Private police in North Carolina must meet or exceed all training and certification requirements as any municipal, county or state law enforcement officer.

What could go wrong there? Well, the community of Raleigh found out after Joseph Conover was hired to patrol several apartment complexes. Residents claim he terrorized their community and a Wake County grand jury agreed:

In the 11-page indictment, handed down Monday afternoon by a Wake County Grand Jury, Conover allegedly terrorized the residents he swore to protect.



By Monday evening, Chief Conover was booked into the Wake County Jail. His bond was set at $2 million.

“Chief” Conover (the news report below claims he is the only employee of the department) is facing serious charges that include kidnapping, assault, obstruction of justice, and more. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman says more charges may be coming. At the center of the charges are at least four men, ages 15-44, who Conover is accused of brutalizing and arresting.

“Chief” Conover went before the city council to complain about the treatment he received by Raleigh officers:

Conover alleged that Raleigh police had interfered with arrests that his officers attempted to make within their jurisdiction and that Raleigh police failed to come to the assistance of Nova’s officers on multiple occasions. Conover told council members that, after a meeting with Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown, she had her staff contact the Wake County District Attorney’s Office to open an investigation into the security business and attempted to have their certifications pulled. Conover also requested that the council instruct Raleigh police officers to abstain from referring to Nova officers as “idiots” or “rent-a-cops” and to stop interfering in investigations.

His one man police force has been suspended.