“I hope that we don’t have a double standard where the Sheriff’s can’t be hired, but the State Police can because I don’t understand what the difference is,” Tomson said.
By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Town of Davis Mayor Al Tomson has sought approval from the West Virginia Attorney General to enter into an agreement with the Tucker County Sheriff’s office to utilize off duty Deputy Sheriff Officers to patrol the Town of Davis at Town expense.
According to Tomson, the idea was posed last year to the Tucker County Sheriff’s Department and the Tucker County Commission. “We had a request to the Sheriff and through the County Commission last year to hire off duty Sheriff Deputies to come and provide some law enforcement in the Town of Davis,” Tomson said.
However, Tomson said the proposal was shot down by the previous State Attorney General. “The County Commission did not approve that and much of that was because the State Attorney General said that we couldn’t do that,” Tomson said.
Tomson said he has sent a letter to the new State Attorney General outlying several points on the matter. “I did send a letter to the new State Attorney General today and basically saying it is within my responsibilities as Mayor in West Virginia Code, I am responsible for the safety and well being of the residents and visitors in the Town of Davis,” Tomson said. “I also have the authority to appoint officers to actually patrol the Town of Davis. So that’s one point.
According to Tomson, the Town would be footing the bill for the initiative by paying all costs for the officers. “Another point I brought up in the letter is that we would be paying the salaries, the overtime and the fringe benefits for the deputies when they are working for the Town of Davis,” Tomson said.
Tomson said he feels the Town already contributes to the vehicles, radios, weapon, munitions and the like that the officers use as taxpayers of the County. “And as far as vehicles and radios and guns and bullets and all that kind of stuff, we already contribute to the acquisition of those items through the taxes we pay to the County because we are in the jurisdiction of the Tucker County Sheriff,” Tomson said.
Tomson said he feels that it is only fair given that the State Police are allowed to do similar arrangements and he fears there could be a double standard if the State Police are allowed to and the County are not. “And the final point that I brought up is that they allow the State Police to do this,” Tomson said. “And I hope that we don’t have a double standard where the Sheriff’s can’t be hired, but the State Police can because I don’t understand what the difference is.”
Tomson said his letter requesting permission was sent out February 12th. “So, I am asking the question again, can we get approval from the Attorney General to enter into an agreement with the Tucker County Sheriff, subject to approval by the County Commission,” Tomson said. “So, that letter went out today.”