MCC hears concerns about officers at Mingo high schools
The Williamson Daily News
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Staff Writer
WILLIAMSON - The Mingo County Board of Education wants uniformed law enforcement at both of the countys high schools and asked the Mingo County Commission for help with funding the position.
Tom Damron, a representative of the Mingo BOE, explained that the county now has one Mingo County Deputy who patrols both Tug Valley and Mingo Central High Schools, but that students know when that officer is at one location, and there are issues at the other school.
He said having a policeman on the premises deters fights and drug activity.
If there is no officer, the kids get unruly, traffic isnt patrolled, Damron said. We have security cameras at the schools, but we cant put them in the restrooms or the locker rooms, and thats where some of the drug dealing takes place.
Damron said pare! nts have approached the board, asking for an officer on duty at the schools, and that a drug-sniffing dog be used. He said that the BOE agreed to the use of the dog, but that they could not give advance notices or the searches would be pointless.
He added that having a cruiser on the roads near the schools, especially MCHS, would ensure teenage drivers observed traffic laws.
Damron said the BOE is applying for a grant to pay for the officer and asked Commissioners to have the addition officer assigned to the high schools.
Commissioner Greg Hootie Smith said the MCC had no problem with a deputy patrolling the schools, but that assigning the officer is at the discretion of the Sheriffs Department.
The sheriff schedules the officers where he desires, we just fund the budget, Smith told Damron. I would ask that you get a written guarantee from the Sheriffs Department that, if you obtain the funding, an officer would be assigned to to the high school.
MCSD Chief Field Deputy James Smith said when funding is in place, there would be no issue with assigning an officer to the school.
That would be their spot, Smith said. MCHS is is a huge school, they need to know an officer will be there every day.
MCC Grant Coordinator Leigh Ann Ray explained that such an assurance would be a requirement for receiving the grant. She said she would work with the BOE to get the necessary documentation from all the agencies involved, including the sheriffs department.
In other business, Williamson Fire Department Chief Jerry Mounts asked the MCC for help with the Mingo Fire Chiefs annual Fire School, which provides additional training for firefighters.
Mounts said the school is scheduled for May 11 through 13, and that attendance is growing. He asked the MCC for $12,000 to help cover costs already incurred for this years school.
MCC agreed to give $10,000 to the school, with the assurance that they would help as much as possible if additional funds were needed.
The Commiss! ion also agreed to grant financial assistance to the Ragland Crime Watch, the Delbarton Kiwanis and the Wharncliffe Volunteer Fire Department.
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