Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/765699
DECEMBER 21-27, 2016 UCW 7 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Are Fayetteville and Cumberland County ready for a consolidated police force? Maybe a centralized law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the unincorporated parts of Cumberland County and in the county's nine municipalities. That question popped up unexpectedly on social media a couple of weeks ago. And people had differing and passionate opinions based on misinformation on how local government works. So, I put together six multiple-choice questions and sent them in a survey to 336 people on an email list. I also put the survey on social media for anyone inclined to answer. One hundred people opened the email. They included three Cumberland County commissioners and a single Fayetteville City Council member. And 41 people had enough interest to fill out the survey. The survey takers are anonymous, and the survey, in general, is by no means scientific. Answers to the questions are as follows: Do you believe having a metro police force would benefit Cumberland County? Yes, 27, or 65.85 percent No, 12, or 29.27 percent Don't know, 2, or 4.88 percent If there is a single law enforcement agency for Cumberland County and its municipalities, who should lead the agency? (Only 39 answered.) Elected sheriff, 9, or 23.08 percent Qualified police chief, 30, or 76.92 percent If it's not a sheriff elected by the people, who should hire a police chief? (Only 39 answered.) County Commissioners, 3, or 7.69 percent County and Fayetteville, 17, or 43.59 percent County and all municipalities, 19, or 48.72 percent Do you believe consolidated police services would reduce costs? Yes, 23, or 56.10 percent No, 11, or 26.83 percent Don't know, 7, or 17.07 percent Regardless of cost, do you think having one countywide law enforcement agency would provide better services? Yes, 28, or 68.29 percent No, 10, or 24.39 percent Not sure, 3, or 7.32 percent Do you think a consolidated metro government is necessary for metro policing to succeed? Yes, 19, or 46.34 percent No, 19, or 46.34 percent Not sure, 3, or 7.32 percent Advocates of metro policing point to Charlotte as an example. The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in 1993 merged law enforcement services and established the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). Mecklenburg County still has an elected sheriff, as required by the North Carolina Constitution. But the Sheriff's Office primarily enforces court orders, operates the jail, transports prisoners, conducts a domestic violence program and maintains the sex offender registry. A police chief and five deputy chiefs supervise the CMPD, which has jurisdiction in Charlotte and the remainder of Mecklenburg County. The CMPD shares jurisdiction within the six Mecklenburg County municipalities. The towns of Pineville, Matthews and Mint Hill border Charlotte yet have their own police departments. Mint Hill Commissioners in 2002 voted unanimously to form their own department, coming up with money to hire 22 officers, five supervisors and a chief. Before that, the town contracted police services with Charlotte. Today, 35 sworn officers serve the roughly 25,000 residents of Mint Hill, and 38 sworn officers serve and protect the 60,000 population of Pineville. Further north, the Town of Davidson also has its own police department, as does Davidson College. Ironically, the Davidson Police Department services the unincorporated area to its north since it's a 20-minute drive for CMPD to access that portion of the county. But when it comes to serious crimes, such as murder or robbery, the CMPD takes over. Locally, friends in law enforcement don't like the thought of one law enforcement agency for the entire county. Others say political turf wars would hamper the process. Either way, people are talking about it, and a small sample of people favor it. JASON BRADY. Columnist. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. OPINION Is a Consolidated Police Force in Fayetteville's Future? by JASON BRADY Is it time for the city and county to join forces? FTCC offers over 200 programs of study leading to the award of associate degree, certificate, or diploma! Face-to-face or online classes available! FTCC is a military-friendly college! Registration locations: Fayetteville Campus • Tony Rand Student Center Spring Lake Campus • 171 Laketree Boulevard Fort Bragg Campus • Fort Bragg Training & Education Center w w w. f ay te c h c c . e d u • ( 9 1 0 ) 6 7 8 - 8 4 0 0 Start the new year by making the SMART choice for your education! Start the new year by making the SMART choice for your education! Register Now!