By Bob Walsh
Wingate is a teeming metropolis of about 4,000 people in
Union County, North Carolina. It no longer fields its own police
department. The town council just voted by 4-1 to dissolve the police
department, citing costs. Local law enforcement will now be provided by
the Union County Sheriff's Office.
The
town had seven approved officer positions, only four of which were
actually staffed. The new contract with the county will provide four
full-time deputies for the town and will save the town $300,000 per
year. The city has had trouble hiring offices for years. Presumably
the pay is below par. The department has existed since 1901.
It is not completely clear exactly when the switchover will take place.
It
does not appear that any of the current city PD officers will be
absorbed into the S.O. The Sheriff does acknowledge that the current PD
has an excellent relationship with the town population and expects his
people will be able to maintain that relationship.
It
should be noted that it takes normally at least five people to cover
one position 24/7/365 allowing for days off, vacation, sick leave, etc.
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