Elizabeth ready for its own police department, troopers leave next month

ELIZABETH, W.Va. — Leaders in the Wirt County town of Elizabeth got the feeling a few years ago the West Virginia State Police may decide to close the agency’s detachment there so they decided to be proactive, Elizabeth Mayor Penny McVay tells MetroNews.

Council began working to create the town’s own police department and a vote will come Monday night to do exactly that.

“We are in hopes that they may happen around July 1 (2017) of our new fiscal year,” McVay said. “We’re implementing a consumer sales tax of one percent.”

A second public hearing and final vote on the ordinance creating the department will come at the council meeting that begins at 7 p.m. The plan for the sales tax will need final approval from the state Home Rule Board.

All of this is just in time with the state police announcing last week it would be closing detachments in Elizabeth, Grantsville and Hundred at the end of the year. Two troopers are usually staffed at Elizabeth. The Wirt County Sheriff’s Department only has two deputies. The new Elizabeth Police Department would only have one part-time officer, Mayor McVay said.

“You have to start somewhere so we’re going to start with part-time and just rotate the hours he’s out there,” McVay said.

The town has already purchased a cruiser, contracted with a municipal judge and revised several town ordinances in anticipation of having its own police force.

McVay knows a part-time department won’t be able to replace the work of two troopers so there remain concerns, she said.

“We have a lot of elderly residents in Elizabeth and I’m sure they are extremely concerned,” she said.

Elizabeth and surrounding areas will be covered by state troopers based in Parkersburg which is about 25 minutes down state Route 14.

In announcing its staffing changes last week, the West Virginia State Police said “focusing manpower and resources in a coordinated manner often makes more sense than having resources stretched thinly across the state.”

The agency has been studying the changes since a 2011 report on its staffing.





More News

News
As Yeager Airport's Wildlife Patrol Dog turns 7, a new dog comes in to learn from him
The new Border Collie is getting acclimated and receiving training for his soon-to-be role.
March 28, 2024 - 6:30 pm
News
Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department closes
The Dunlow VFD did not have a valid workers compensation insurance policy.
March 28, 2024 - 6:20 pm
News
PEIA examines financial effects of new law meant to ensure local pharmacies get fair reimbursements
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 453 into law this week.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
Barbour County woman sentenced after death case sent back to circuit court by Supreme Court
Carli Reed sentenced on voluntary manslaughter conviction.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm