SNOW HILL – Local law enforcement officials advocated for funding to hire additional deputies and purchase new vehicles as they struggle to keep up with increased activity in Worcester County.
During a budget work session Tuesday, Sheriff Reggie Mason told the Worcester County Commissioners his department was hoping for an additional $508,769 in funding for FY 2016. That increase would enable him to hire two additional deputies and replace aging vehicles. He said the increased commercial development in the county, along with its position in between two states, kept law enforcement busy.
“Being bordered by two states, we’re going to get some bad people passing through,” he said. “We need to be concerned.”
He said his 86 sworn officers struggled to handle the growing number of calls for service. Road patrol officers, who work 12-hour shifts, answered 48,909 calls in 2014. Because they roam the whole county, they often have to wait as long as 15 minutes for backup when something happens. Because of that, and because the sheriff’s office is often asked to assist during special events in local municipalities, Mason said he’d like to hire two new deputies in the coming year.
Mason’s department has also asked for seven new vehicles, expected to cost $231,000, in the coming year. In the 1990s, patrol cars were replaced when they hit 80,000 miles. Now, vehicles are being used until they have nearly 200,000 miles on them.
Part of Mason’s $508,769 request includes building improvements for Worcester County Animal Control. Sue Rantz, the county’s chief animal control officer, said the kennels on the north side of the animal control building were completely exposed to the elements. She said the unroofed kennels tended to become slippery in wet weather which created hazardous conditions for employees who were cleaning them.
“It becomes icy and very slippery,” she said.
The uncovered kennels also mean animals in them have to be brought inside during storms. She hopes the county can provide $31,000 so that a roof can be erected over the kennels and the walkway in front of them.
The sheriff’s department wrapped up its budget request with a plea from Lt. Mike McDermott for a central booking officer. He said the county would operate more smoothly if it had a central booking officer, not a sworn officer, to deal with arrests. He said in Ocean City, where they had such a position, the department’s sworn officers were able to leave an individual who’d been arrested with the central booking officer so they could get right back on patrol.
“Central booking is smart policing,” McDermott said. “It only makes sense to keep your assets in the field. It should have been done 15 years ago when the grant money was flowing.”
Commissioner Merrill Lockfaw said it was a topic that had come up before and was something he thought the county needed to pursue.
“I think it’s something we need to expedite and move on and quit talking about,” he said.
Commissioner Jim Bunting asked McDermott to put the request in writing along with details such as the cost associated with such a position and the amount of time and money it would save the sheriff’s department.