Fate Of La Grange Police Still Undecided

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Posted: 10:37 PM Jan 5, 2009
Last Updated: 10:37 PM Jan 5, 2009
Reporter: Dave Jordan

18 comments

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People of La Grange in Lenoir County came out Monday night to hear the fate of their boys in blue. A proposal to cut the police force has many people worried.

Town manager John Craft presented a proposal enlisting the services of the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office. He says having only two deputies to police La Grange would be more cost efficient. Craft says the town would save over $65,000 the first year and $150,000 after that.

But some residents say they're concerned and say you can't put a pricetag on safety.

A larger town hall meeting will take place next Monday night inside the Frank Alumni hall at 7:00 pm. People with comments and concerns will be able to speak.

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Posted by: ### Location: New Zealand on Jan 12, 2009 at 01:07 PM
Just forget about it its a done deal!!!!!!!

Posted by: ? Location: La Grange on Jan 8, 2009 at 05:58 PM
I think that teh floks of La Grange need to go to the meeting on Jan 12th to let the town council know that we want to keep the police dept and think that somebody needs to go to the lenoir co. commissioners meeting next month to let them know how we feel about

Posted by: ******** Location: Lenoir Co. on Jan 7, 2009 at 03:29 PM
I don't live in lagrange, but have spoken to several people that live there about this and they all seem to say the same thing "They don't want to lose their local police dept." so maybe with this special meeting that has been scheduled the town council will see that the citizens don't want to lose the La Grange Police and they will stop it dead in its tracks.

Posted by: lanative Location: La Grange on Jan 7, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Jimmy, as a taxpayer in LA, I agree we need to take steps to save money, but not at the expense of our LOCAL police dept. Cut out the frivilous spending that is being done at town hall and LA can keep the local police dept. as "citizen" said a million dollar park, parking lots and web pages are not needed, but I being a citizen in LA want to keep LaGrange Police Department not the Sheriff's Dept.

Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:25 AM
Jimmy, You have a valid argument, however if you read Citizen's post, I think you will see that his/her point is that the local government is willing to waste money on much less important things and want to cut a very important service. If they need to eliminate things from the budget there are many places they can start before eliminating the police force. That is the point. Obviously 13,000 dollars for a website is an absolute waste of money, and if they are doing that, then there are sure to be more examples of waste that could be done away with before eliminating law enforcement in a climate that indicates we need it more and more. If you have never been to La Grange, I can tell you that they surely don't need to spend a million dollars on a park ESPECIALLY if they are going to eliminate the police force due to budget constraints. It doesn't make GOOD SENSE.

Posted by: Jimmy Location: Kinston on Jan 6, 2009 at 10:38 PM
LaGrange is not the first town to succumb to consolidated services. There are small and medium sized towns all over North Carolina that have utilized this very strategy. From what I have read, the town is paying the county for the positions so that LaGrange does not loose any coverage. What amazes me is how the common taxpayer moans about high taxes and inefficient govenment but as soon as steps are taken to make it more efficient and less cumbersome upon the taxpayer, you still hear crying and wailing. It just another example that you can not satisfy everyone all the time. No matter what you do someone is not going to like it.

Posted by: Cactus Location: Strabane on Jan 6, 2009 at 06:55 PM
To the citizens of LaG, seems your mayor and city council are doing the same as our US congress, throw money at pork projects and removing money for the protection of its citizens. Let them know that come next election thay will be voted out. I come into LaG quite often and would hate to see crime run rampant because of less law enforcement. Good Luck.

Posted by: VBush Location: MHCY on Jan 6, 2009 at 02:18 PM
To Citizen of LaGrange posted @ 1:25; It seems to me you have made some valid points. I do not live in LaGrange, although I have been there many times years ago. I always liked that town. It seems to me that the council is willing to spend money on frivolities but not important issues. I would vote to keep the cops before spending 13,000 on a web page. Jeesh! I like LaGrange, but there sure isn't enough there to warrant that. Are there any of you 'techie types' out there that can justify that kind of money for a web page? I mean would there be that many web pages on the net if everyone was spending that kind of money to put one up and maintain it? I seriously doubt it. My guess is that your councilmen are morons.

Posted by: citizen Location: lagrange on Jan 6, 2009 at 01:25 PM
The officers are NOT guaranteed a job with the LCSD, the town already has access to anything the sheriff's office offers such as drug dog, SRT, or any extra manpower needed, there is already 2 officers on duty in LA most of the time. John Craft says that it should be done because it is a service that is being duplicated by having to pay county taxes why not use LCSD, well if that is the case, tax payers already pay for landfill usage, why pay for trash pickup, there is a building inspector employed through Lenoir co. why pay a building inspector in LaGrange, the county inspector HAS to come in and do inspection anyway. Seems that the town manager and town council don't know how to budget money so they cut the one resourse that is NEEDED in LaGrange, so they can have a million dollar park, a $27,000.00 parking lot a web page that will cost $13,000.00 to start, so the no brainer here would be get rid of the town council and town manager and get NEW ones that know what they are doing!

Posted by: Jimmy Location: Kinston on Jan 6, 2009 at 12:56 PM
The plan, as I understand it, is to hire the existing LaGrange officers. The town will have have 9 deputies assigned to LaGrange, 2 working all the time IN THE TOWN OF LAGRANGE. So, in that respect, the town is not loosing out on anything and is gaining a connection to a much larger department while saving the town money. It is a no-brainer...

Posted by: concerned Location: LA on Jan 6, 2009 at 11:50 AM
All La Grange residents need to be at this meeting on Jan.12,2009 to voice our opinions and to let the town manager, mayor and council members know that we want to keep OUR police dept.

Posted by: lanative Location: La Grange on Jan 6, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Well Anonymous, I have called on the LA Cops on a couple of occasions, got great response time and my case was worked with great concern, I have nothing but respect for these officers and Chief Jerry Davis, I think they do an awesome job and I want to keep them around and for the safety of LaGrange they need to STAY!!

Posted by: GoPirates Location: GVegas on Jan 6, 2009 at 10:21 AM
This is so ridiculous!! This is what the World has come to, taking away police to save some $$. Well what about the $$ that we have to spend and the heartache we have to endure if a family member dies b/c it took police to long to respond?? My grandma lives right in the heart of La Grange and she lives by herself. I just cant even think about it!!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: LA on Jan 6, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Personally I think it would be the same without them, but the town would save money. They are not productive to start with. Waiting for LaGrange cops would take just as long as waiting for a deputy from Kinston. When is the last time anyone has seen LA cops do anything about the problems in town anyway? Nothing would be different without them. Cut them loose.

Posted by: Citizen Location: LaGrange on Jan 6, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Should have been at the town meeting last night, John Craft talked about ALL the money that would be saved by getting rid of the Police Dept. but then the council voted to spend $13,000.00 on a web page, we see where their priorities are and it is not the SAFETY of the town.

Posted by: Gus Location: NC on Jan 6, 2009 at 09:00 AM
Are the two deputies going to work seven days a week? Are they going to work back to back 12 hour shifts to provide round the clock coverage? Two deputies, even if they are stationed in the town itself, won't be enough to ensure coverage 24/7. Last May the Chief was suspended and now they want to get rid of the whole police department. Sounds to me like someone in power wants the Chief out, but can't do it legally, so the plan is to throw the baby out with the bathwater and eliminate the whole department. Can't prove it, but it sure looks like a lot of hidden agendas and dirty politics are going on here.

Posted by: Barbara Location: Beulaville NC on Jan 6, 2009 at 07:23 AM
Biggest mistake you will ever make. There is crime everywhere, and cutting the force will only make the crime rate go up in Lenoir County.

Posted by: MrT Location: LaNC on Jan 6, 2009 at 07:13 AM
They want to take away the police dept. so that when you have a 911 call it will take 15 to 20 minutes for the first deputies to arrive all the way from Kinston.That way all the crackheads can disperse before they get there.Personally I plan to protect my own property as best as I can, but I feel sorry for all the elderly people here with no way to defend themselves.

Posted by: LEO Location: NC on Jan 6, 2009 at 05:22 AM
Save $65,000.00 and do what with it? Public Safety should be any town's top priority.

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