County Government Finally Thinking Smart

We might be moving in the right direction!!

In this weeks newspaper the following was mentioned by county officials:

Block suggested that a county-wide police department would take politics out of the sheriff’s office and would insure that a professional ran the force.

The sheriff’s office could still have control over civil matters, he said. Jones added that would mean that the sheriff’s office would still exist but with different duties.


If the county adopts this new idea, plus adds two more commissioners to the office, I suspect they will begin to regain some needed creditability.

Second, they need need to establish a civilian panel to interview and hire county employees. This will take the politics out of the game. The best and most qualified people will be hired; to include the next county sheriff.
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Whoever proposed a county police force needs to do some investigation into the history and legal ramifications.

1. Several Counties USED to have county police forces....all nc counties have done away with them except for two. Durham and Gaston, which are two of the most crime ridden counties in the state....no judgment!

2. Even if you have county police, by NC Constitution, The Sheriff is the highest/Chief Law Enforcment officer in the County, Whether you have Police, troopers or agents. Check it out....Troopers have been transferred because Sheriffs have called the Colonel in Raleigh and said "Trooper X can no longer serve warrants or arrest citizens in my County."

So to suggest that the county can take away the Sheriff's responsibilities and turn all of them except Civil over to a "County" Police force is incorrect. In a small county like Cherokee, all you would get is duplication of services and more money on salaries.

You are very correct in all you have said about duplication of efforst, time, and money. I think they forget that the Sheriff is still an elected official and that is the civilian review panel that reviews his decision during election time. We are indeed a small county and such large area politics would only muddle the pot even more. Excellent examples of big ideas gone wrong on the other counties.

Hey let's all work together and fix the problem instead of laying blame and trying to reinvent the wheel. That is a novel idea!

Something must be done about the drugs and deaths it causes. Law enforcement is working hard but still needs help from the civilians. Again, a novel idea!