Snow Hill reinstates police department after public outcry and congressional appeal
SNOW HILL — Less than a week after voting to dissolve its municipal police department, the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners has unanimously reversed course, voting Monday to retain the town’s law enforcement agency.
In a special-called emergency meeting on June 2, Commissioner Lorraine Washington made the motion to reconsider the board’s previous 3-2 decision to disband the department and enter into a contract with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
“I proudly cast my vote to establish the Snow Hill Police Department following years of collecting information and looking into different options,” Washington said. “We aim to meet the needs of our community then and now. Fourteen years later, residents are still expressing their desire for a police department.”
Washington acknowledged public calls for increased accountability and visibility but affirmed her commitment to the local department.
“I am committed to keeping the Snow Hill Police Department and working to address concerns that are brought to [us],” she said. “Our residents deserve the best law enforcement service possible of their hard-earned tax money.”
Commissioner Rosa Wilkes seconded the motion and voiced her support for the department, citing her background in criminal justice and concern for public safety.
“I ran for office because I had a lot to offer, and we must ensure safety of our town residents and those visiting and passing through,” Wilkes said. “Public safety must be our top priority, which is non-negotiable for me.”
Wilkes also called for improved transparency and visibility from the department going forward.
“Maintaining high visibility is not just a goal, but it’s a necessity,” she said. “We must recommit ourselves to delivering the best police services to our community because they deserve nothing less.”
The board then voted unanimously to rescind the May 28 decision and retain the Snow Hill Police Department. That vote had originally passed 3-2, with Commissioners Washington and Wilkes opposed. On June 2, all five commissioners — Washington, Wilkes, Faye Daniels, Geraldine Shackleford, and Dianne Andrews — voted in favor of the reversal.
Mayor Pro Tem Rosa Wilkes made the second motion, stating, “I make a motion that we keep the Town of Snow Hill Police Department and not enter into a contract with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department for our law enforcement services.” The motion passed unanimously.
The vote comes days after U.S. Congressman Don Davis, a former Snow Hill mayor, publicly urged the board to reverse its decision, calling the local police department a vital asset to the community.
The emergency meeting was held at Town Hall on SE Second Street. With the reversal, the Snow Hill Police Department will remain operational, and plans to shift coverage to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office have been canceled.
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