Small area towns struggling to recruit police officers

BADIN, N.C. — For six weeks this summer, a local police chief was the only full-time officer in his entire department.

Although the Badin Police Department is small and only needs a handful of officers to be considered fully staffed, the shortage highlights the challenges small towns in our area have recruiting and keeping officers.

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Some towns are opting for sheriff’s deputies to take over patrol duties.

Despite the difficult summer, Badin Police Chief Bryan Lambert said the department is here to stay.

“They know everybody, and we know them,” resident Mary Anne Sutton said.

Residents are glad the town is keeping its own department after hearing talk of sheriff’s deputies replacing the police.

“On the few occasions I’ve called the police they’re at my house in five minutes,” resident Dave Stanford said.

At full force, the department should have five full-time officers, as well as a handful of part-time employees.

Lambert said they’ve hired two officers who start next week and have two spots still open.

To fill the gaps in coverage, Badin contracted Stanly County deputies who worked on their days off.

“When you dial 911 you expect someone to show up and usually the quicker the better,” Lambert said.

Staffing is a challenge many small-town departments in our area now face.

“It is a challenge for every small police department in the state of North Carolina to make ends meet to retain quality employees and provide services that the citizens deserve,” Lambert said.

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It’s hard for towns to compete with what bigger agencies have to offer.

“This day and time, a lot of younger officers will come to the municipalities look at their career started and get some experience, and then they go to Charlotte, as an example. They pay a lot more,” said Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco.

Even though smaller departments have better response times.

“If a municipality has its own police department, yes the response time will be a lot shorter,” said Crisco.

Residents said they are used to getting service from officers they’ve come to know.

“I dropped my handbag in the street because it fell out of the golf cart. I got a knock on the door about 20 minutes later, ‘Is this yours?’ from the officer,” Sutton said.

Last month, the town of Richfield began contracting with Stanly County to provide one deputy for its community. Richfield does not have its own police department.

Cox Media Group