• North Carolina considers explicit rules banning sex for officers on duty or in uniform.
• The proposal follows years of unclear standards and controversial disciplinary cases.
• The changes would also address lying during investigations and clarify grounds for certification revocation.

RALEIGH, N.C. (TDR) — A proposed overhaul of North Carolina’s law enforcement standards would explicitly prohibit police officers from engaging in sex while on duty, in uniform, or inside police vehicles, as well as with subordinates or students in training programs. The initiative is led by the state’s Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and comes after years of legal ambiguity and leniency.

“We want to be clear so folks can stay out of trouble and can remain certified to do their important work in their communities,” said commission chair Chris Blue.

Beyond ‘Good Moral Character’

The state’s current guidelines broadly require officers to demonstrate “good moral character,” a standard often challenged in disciplinary hearings. The proposed rule changes would add clarity by defining unacceptable behavior and setting specific conditions under which certifications may be suspended, revoked, or denied.

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The commission also aims to include lying during internal or criminal investigations as grounds for disciplinary action. Blue said the changes are meant to help officers “understand where the guardrails are” and preserve public trust.

Cases that Shaped Reform

Attorney Mikael Gross, who defends officers at disciplinary hearings, said the commissions had long tolerated indiscretions—possibly due to police shortages following the “defund the police” movement. But with heightened scrutiny and public pressure, enforcement has become more aggressive.

Among the six high-profile cases since 2010: a 2023 incident in which an officer was caught having sex with two women while on duty, and a 2017 case where a married officer engaged in sex in his patrol car and on the hood. In the latter case, disciplinary action was avoided after the officer was deemed “rehabilitated.”

“Obviously, we expect our officer members to be moral and tell the truth,” said Randy Hagler, former president of the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police. “Some of our members are a little embarrassed it had to be made this clear.”

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