Highlighting a Davidson County Special Investigation Unit

DAVIDSON COUNTY, NC — A special investigations unit in Davidson County takes drugs and illegal weapons off the streets. The special unit is called the TRACE Team, and its duties are different from those of other officers.

TRACE stands for Traffic and Criminal Enforcement. Unlike other sheriff’s deputies, they do not respond to calls on a regular basis. Instead, they patrol various high-crime areas throughout the county.

“Because we know where the problem areas are, we go out and enforce speed limits and drunk driving, make numerous arrests, and at every traffic stop, many of our seizures are meth, cocaine and fentanyl. And every officer is responsible for this, they are highly trained and have the experience that we have through the sheriff’s office,” said Lt. Jerry Soles.

The team leader is Lt. Soles. He said team members are assigned different tasks in identifying, apprehending and arresting people involved in criminal activities.

Sergeant Ricky Beck has been part of the team since its inception. He has also been in the police force for 14 years.

“A criminal only has to get it right every day, we only have to get it right once and arrest someone. We are out in the community and you never know where we will be, so I suggest you commit your crimes outside of Davidson County,” said Sergeant Beck.

The TRACE team was the brainchild of Sheriff Richie Simmons. He wanted to create a team that would fight crime throughout the county.

RELATED: High Point man faces federal charges in ongoing child sex crimes investigation

RELATED: Asheboro man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison after 75-mile chase