Officers share salary concerns
ELKINS — Members of the Elkins Police Department shared concerns regarding their pay and expressed a need for annexation of businesses along the Beverly Five-lane during a city of Elkins Public Safety Committee meeting Monday.
Patrolman C.G. Boatwright said he could join a police force in Upshur County and start out making the same amount as a sergeant does in Elkins.
“I could go to Buckhannon P.D. right now, start out as a boot and make what a sergeant here makes,” he said.
Boatwright went on to ask if revenue could be generated with forced annexation of businesses such as Walmart and others along the Beverly Five-lane which the Elkins Police Department provides service for even though they are outside of city limits.
“That is a damn good question and it is a question that is very actively being addressed,” said David Parker, Public Safety Committee member and Fifth Ward councilman.
City Treasurer Tracy Judy addressed Boatwright’s inquiry and said there are only two ways to achieve annexation of businesses on the Beverly Five-lane.
“Those businesses can voluntarily come into the city or the county commission has to have an approval,” Judy said. “If the county commission votes two out of three against, our hands are tied. I can tell you those things have been ongoing.”
Boatwright said the Elkins Police Department is the only department in Randolph County that runs 24 hours per day and seven days per week.
“If we didn’t do 24/7, this city would burn,” Boatwright said.
Parker confirmed that without police presence overnight crime issues would increase.
“I live in a neighborhood where police presence has made a huge difference. Mr. Boatwright is absolutely correct. If we did not have them through the night then this city would burn,” he said. “Just come sit on my porch, I’ll bring the beer.”
Galloway added that most drug activity takes place in the overnight hours while EPD patrolmen are the only officers on duty.
“We have guys who work the night shift and pretty much know what’s going on here at night. That’s when all the drugs are being traded,” Galloway said. “I don’t know if you read the paper or whatever but they don’t necessarily stop during the day, but it happens more at night.”
Boatwright added officers have seized nearly 200 grams of methamphetamine in the last two weeks while working overnight shifts.
While no action was taken during Monday’s meeting, Parker stressed that city officials would look into the issue.
“I want to tell both of you (Boatwright and 1st Sgt. R.W. Belt), and take this back to your fellow officers, we are committed to doing everything we can to work with you on the compensation,” he said. “It’s critical that we do. … Annexation is really important because we carry their freight.”