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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-04-10 Special Meeting428 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE MERGER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, APRIL 10, 1991 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in a joint session with elected officials of the four municipalities on Wednesday, April 10, 1991, at 7:00 o'clock P.M. in the Madeline suite of Wagoner Hall on the UNC-Wilmington campus. Members present were: Commissioners Jonathan Barfield, Sr.; Robert A. Greer; William H. sutton; Vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, . Jr.; Chairman, Fred Retchin; Sheriff Joe McQueen; County Manager, Allen O'Neal; County Attorney, Robert W. Pope; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell. Chairman Retchin called the Work Session to order and stated the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the possible merger of law enforcement in New Hanover County. He welcomed and introduced the following guest speakers from the Institute of Government: Warren Jake Wicker A. Fleming Bell, II Ronald Lynch OVERVIEW OF THE WILMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT Major R. W. Simpson, Acting Police Chief of the Wilmington Police Department, presented the following report: WILMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 139 sworn officers 36 civilians 20 temporaries (including the school crossing guards) 3 dogs 2 horses 78 fleet of vehicles (boats, bomb trailers, vans, police cars and investigative cars) . The department is divided into two major categories: I. FIELD OPERATIONS: Patrol Division criminal Investigation Division, which is divided into the following sections: General Investigation City/County Narcotics & Vice Squad Special Investigative Units Juvenile Investigators Special Operations Canine Patrol Mountie Patrol Parks Patrol Code Enforcement Officers Supervisor of School Crossing Guards PATT Unit . II. SUPPORT SERVICES (composed mostly of civilians) Payroll Records Communications ID Section Training Administrative Section Community Relations Division Drug and Area Resistance Effort Crime Prevention Activities Neighborhood Watch ~ ..~. 429 ,~ MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 10, 1991 (CONTINUEll)t ...;~ 'I~' 1 ~G. ~' If OVERVIEW OF THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY SHERIFF' S DEPARTMENT Sheriff Joe McQueen presented the following report: SHERIFF' S DEPARTMENT Number of Employees: . 5 Captains 3 Lieutenants 15 Sergeants 85 Deputies 21 Detectives 19 Telecom (911) 1 MSGA (911) 1 Food Service Manager 3 Cooks 2 utility I positions 1 PBX Operator 5 Secretary VI positions 1 Clerk I position 4 Data Clerks The Sheriff's Department is divided into the following divisions: 1. Jail/Custody Division 2. 911 Division 3. Patrol Division 4. Support Service Division 5. Detective Division 6. Vice/Narcotics Division . Sheriff McQueen stated he and Major Simpson, have worked together for the past 20 years with the main objective being to provide the best law enforcement possible to the citizens of the city and county. commissioner Barfield commented on the growing drug problem within the inter-city and inquired as to whether the number of officers has been increased on this squad? Sheriff McQueen stated the City has been approached and has indicated they will be assigning more officers to this unit; however, for the past 3-4 years no additional officers have been assigned, therefore, the bulk of responsibility has been handled by the County with 65% of the drug work being within the City Limits. DISCUSSION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT MERGER Mr. Warren Jake Wicker, of the Insti tute of Government, stated the Institute is not an advocate either for or against the merging of law enforcement; however, he and the other guest speakers will be glad to share their knowledge on this subject. The following items were presented and discussed: Objectives of Law Enforcement Merger 1. Enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in New Hanover County. . 2. Achieve increased efficiency in law enforcement. 3. Maintain levels of law enforcement services that reflect the decisions and policies of the County Board of Commissioners and the City Council. Major Issues to be Addressed in a Law Enforcement Merger 1. How are the levels of service to be determined? will the levels of service be determined by the governing bodies upon recommendation from law enforcement staff, or will another procedure need to be developed? ..... ( 430 ~ MINUTES f.f...:.,SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 10, 1991 (CONTINUED) 2. How will a merged system be financed? Taxpayers will continue to pay for services in a merged law enforcement agency. The question is which citizens will pay through which government, and how much? 3. How will the administrative operating policies be determined? arrangement administrative policies the Sheriff and Police Chief. organization and Under the present are determined by 4. What policies and principles will guide the transition? What will happen to salaries, shifting of personnel, property, buildings. etc. () Mr. Ronald Lynch, of the Institute of Government, stated New Hanover County is fortunate to have two excellent law enforcement agencies. Normally, the merger of law enforcement is due to one agency being corrupt; experiencing financial problems; or one ineffective agency. Since these conditions do not exist in New Hanover County the following alternatives could be considered: Chief Alternatives 1. Merger of law enforcement under the Sheriff. 2. Merger of all law enforcement under a police chief appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. 3. Merger of all law enforcement under the Sheriff, with contract between the City and the County. 4. Creation of a separate police commission with county- wide responsibility for law enforcement. 5. provision of county-wide law enforcement by a private () agency under contracts with the City and County. ~ 6. County-wide provision of law enforcement services by the City under contract with the County. 7. Transfer of some of the city's law enforcement functions to the County. 8. Performance of some of the City's law enforcement functions by the County under contract. OVERVIEW OF A CONSOLIDATED LAW ENFORCEMENT MERGER PRESENTED BY THE SHERIFF' S DEPARTMENT AND WILMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT Sheriff Joe McQueen listed the following items that would have to be addressed if the two law enforcement agencies merged: 1. The Sheriff's Department pays Social Security; whereas, the Wilmington Police Department does not provide that benefit. 2. The Wilmington Police Department is under the civil Service Board; whereas, the Sheriff's Department has a Employment and Disciplinary Review Board which handles employee grievances and problems. () 3. The Wilmington Police Department provides longevity pay; whereas, the County does not provide this benefit. 4. Select new uniforms. 5. Change the color of vehicles. Sheriff McQueen stated if a merger should occur, it will take at least 1 1/2 years to complete the transition. He also commented on politics in law enforcement and stated the Sheriff's Department is no more political than other law enforcement structures. . . . ~ MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 10, 1991 (CONTINIJ1i"~):,:~ 481 t "" .. '---- . Major simpson, agreed with the items listed by Sheriff McQueen and stated the main items of concern among the Police Officers are what benefits they might lose. He listed the following major concerns: 1. Rank structure 2. Salaries 3. civil Service Emphasis was placed on addressing the rank structure and salaries. Major Simpson stated being a professional law enforcement officer and considering the ability to have a merged force of 240 law enforcement officers to handle the criminal element would be an asset. The Police Department will operate and function to the best of its ability regardless of the type of system established. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period with the following items discussed: 1. What are the present budgets for each law enforcement agency? Sheriff's Dept. Wilmington Police Dept. Total $ 6,967,901 $ 6.273.000 $13,240,901 2. What are the reasons for the city/county merger and is there data available from other areas who have had a successful merger? Historical articles are the only data available. 3. Have any counties and cities merged in the State? There are no counties in North Carolina that have merged law enforcement; however, in Guilford County a small community contracted with the Sheriff's Department and found it to be cost-effective; and when Durham annexed a certain area of the County, they were not able to provide law enforcement; there- fore they contracted with the Sheriff's Department. 4. Is there a plan for a feasibility study to determine the cost and quality of service, and if the study is performed who will pay for it? If the local governments are interested in pursuing the merger of law enforcement, a committee will be appointed to decide if a study should be formed and who should absorb the cost. 5. Would the County be willing to take the equipment and staff of the Town of Carolina Beach under the 911 System at no charge? Sheriff McQueen stated the 911 Dispatch System should become county-wide and he would not be opposed to this merger. 6. Would it be possible to consolidate records without merging? Sheriff McQueen stated records could be combined without a total merger. 7. Concern was expressed for recruiting minority officers with a request for some form of mandate written into the ~ ( 4J) 2 ~t) ~ MINU'I.'E.' ow SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 10, 1991 (CONTINUED) \; consolidation agreement to ensure the hiring of minorities. An Affirmative Action Plan should address this issue. Mayor Betz commented on a Task Force appointed by the City of Wilmington composed of Councilman Torn Wright, Councilman Gloria Berger, City Manager William Farris, and City Attorney Torn Pollard to study the concept of consolidating law enforcement. He stated the County may wish to appoint members to the Task () Force and further discuss this 'concept. , Discussion was also held on combining the 911 and Records Divisions with the general consensus that these departments should be merged. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Retchin expressed appreciation to the guest speakers, elected officials, Sheriff and Major Simpson for an excellent presentation and stated the Commissioners should consider appointing members to the Task Force to further study the issue. Chairman Retchin adjourned the meeting at 9:35 o'clock P.M. ~~Z;: Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the Board () ()