Photo Note: To download a photo of Moose, see end of story.

UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus Charles Moose to discuss D.C.-area sniper investigation

By REBECCA FOLMAR
School of Journalism and Mass Communication

CHAPEL HILL-- Former Montgomery County, Md., Police Chief Charles Moose, who gained international attention last October during sniper shootings in and around the nation’s capital, will speak Nov. 6 at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In his speech, this year’s Nelson Benton Lecture in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Moose will discuss his experiences with the media while he headed the task force investigating the shootings.

The free, public lecture will be at 5:30 p.m. in Carroll Hall Auditorium; doors will open at 5 p.m. Moose will be available at 6:30 p.m. to sign copies of his book, "Three Weeks in October," which will be available for purchase.

Earlier on Nov. 6, Moose will speak at an executive education seminar in the school for professional communicators and students. "In the Crossfire: A Crisis Communication Seminar with Charles Moose" will explore crisis communication strategies for corporate communication, media relations and internal communication managers.

The seminar, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., requires advance registration. Attendance is limited to the first 60 applicants. For details, visit http://www.jomc.unc.edu/executiveeducation/crossfire/index.html or call toll-free (877) 668-0674.

The lecture and seminar mark the first time Moose has spoken at the university about the sniper investigation. A Lexington native, he was on the wrestling team at UNC and completed a bachelor’s degree in U.S. history in 1975. He went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in urban studies and criminology from Portland State University.

Moose worked his way up the ranks of the Portland Police Department, eventually becoming chief. During that time, he graduated from the FBI National Academy and became an adjunct faculty member at Portland State. He accepted an offer to become chief in Montgomery County in 2000.

Moose was far from a well-known public figure outside the Washington, D.C., area until the sniper case propelled him into the national spotlight. Soon there were book and movie offers for his perspective on the case.

The investigation was the biggest of Moose’s career, and it may be the last. He resigned as police chief in Montgomery County recently to tell his story in the book. Currently he serves in the Air National Guard and is starting a crisis-management consulting company with his wife, Sandy.

The Nelson Benton Lecture Series was established in 1989 by family and friends in memory of the UNC alumnus, who died Feb. 13, 1988 after a career of more than 20 years with CBS News.

Parking is available in most campus lots after 5 p.m., with paid parking in the Swain visitor lot off Cameron Avenue. From there, Carroll Hall is across Cameron roughly behind the Memorial Hall restoration site. Parking will be free in the lot at McCauley and Pittsboro streets. To reach Carroll, cross McCauley going north and South Columbia Street going east. Walk east between the Naval Armory and the science complex construction site to Polk Place and ask students for directions.

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Note: Moose will be available to the media from 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. For details, call Rachel Lillis, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, (919) 966-7024, lillis@email.unc.edu

Photo url: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/alum/moose_charles.jpg Photo credit:  André F. Chung, Baltimore Sun

Contact: Rachel Lillis, (919) 966-7024, lillis@email.unc.edu
News Services contacts: Print, L.J. Toler, 962-8589; broadcast, Karen Moon, 962-8595