North Preston Area Watch (NPAW) Meeting Minutes April 25, 2013, 6:30pm
Held at the North Preston Senior Center
Program: Essay Awards Ceremony and LEAP Panel Discussion
Officers Present:Guests:
James Boreing, PresidentMel Snyder, PC Prosecuting Attorney
Jeanie Walsh, SecretarySheriff Dan Loughrie
Margie Boreing, TreasurerCraig Jennings, Commission President
Bob Walsh, Parliarmentarian WV Senator Dave Sypolt
Vicki Cole, County Commissioner
Paul Webster, Brandonville Mayor
Myron Livingood, Bruceton Council
Laura Dulaney, Bruceton Council
Chuck Beatty, Mt.Top NW
There were 79 registered attendees.
Preceding the regular NPAW Meeting On April 25, 2013
NPAW PRESENTED ESSAY AWARDS TO BRUCETON SCHOOL STUDENTS
North Preston Area Watch (NPAW) held an Awards Ceremony at its meeting on April 25 presenting certificates to all “Drug Awareness”essay participants of Teresa Quinn’s 4th grade class from the Bruceton School. The following received cash prizes:
Jay Kinder, 1st place received $50.00
Sahara Belanger, 2nd place, $25.00 and
Ally Barone, 3rd place, $15.00
In addition, all participants received an “I’m too Smart 2B on Drugs” bracelet (compliments of Sheriff Dan Loughrie) and a coupon for a free “ice cream cone” at the Mill Stone Ice Cream Shop in Bruceton Mills. A special guest, the SAFETYPup from the Sheriff’s Department assisted in presenting the awards and gift packets. Mrs. Quinn and Dr. David Tupper, Principal at the Bruceton School were also presented with certificates of appreciation.
Each participating student wrote a very impressive essay. The content of their essays is an indication that these kids are “on the right track” and that they “hope their families, friends and teachers don’t ever do drugs.” They expressed how the use of drugs is very “harmful to your health, could cause you to make bad decisions and could cause death.”
Dr. Tupper has invited NPAW to conduct an Essay Contest in the next school year 2013-14, which would include grades 4, 5 and 6.
Refreshments for the reception were served by the Bruceton/Brandonville VFW Auxillary and Eric Tomlinson, ETPhotography recorded the event.
At 7:30pm a combined meeting of NPAW/LEAP was held following the Awards ceremony.
President James called the meeting to order followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer.
A motion was made and seconded to dispense with the reading of the previous meeting minutes. A motion was also made and seconded to dispense with the treasurer’s report.
Everyone was asked to sign the attendance roster.
The following announcements were made:
The next meeting will be held on May 23. Chuck Beatty from the Mountain Top NW group will present a program on emergency preparedness.
DEA Drug Collection to be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the North Preston Senior Center from 10:00am—2:00pm.
Reminder of the need to get your E911 House Number Signs on display.
A panel discussion was held with the Preston County Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP). Prosecuting Attorney began by acknowledgeing (as demonstrated with the school children in attendance) how important it is to begin at an early age to education our young students to help them tobecome aware and informed about the hazards and harm caused by the use of drugs.
Mel Snyder, Preston County Prosecuting Attorney, stated the purpose of the LEAP program is to bring together the law enforcement officers and the citizens in the county to discuss common issues.
Mel reported that he recently hired Jay Shay as assistant prosecuting attorney to replace Bill Means who left for a better paying job.
Mel reported that laws change on a regular basis and he provides training as changes in laws occur relating to searches and seizures, arrests, and the use of K-9s. The sheriff’s department has 2 K-9s and will soon have three. In June he will begin training law enforcement officers in the sheriff’s department and state police. There have been major changes in what you can and cannot do, especially in drug arrests and searching homes.
He states his office is very active in a lot of drug cases. A Task Force is coming back to Preston County, State Police Isaac Harmon will return with more focus and effort mostly on prescription drugs.
Sheriff Loughrie reports he currently has 16 deputies and will soon have 18. One is in school now and will be out in 5 weeks; another was hurt and will be delayed for a little while.
Sheriff reports that he wants each deputy to have a presence in each school one hour per week, and could be 15 minutes at a time. Sheriff wants school children to know him and his deputies as their friends (the good guys) and that they are not the bad guys. It will be mandatory that adeputy be assigned to a school. And just because you see a sheriff’s vehicle at the school will not indicate that there is a problem. They will be on routine checks at irregular times.
Each officer will spend 1 hour in school per week. Deputies have been rescheduled and sheriff now has 24/7 hour coverage in the county—he has assigned two full-time, 8pm to 8am night duty officers, and 3 officers on duty on weekend nights.
All AVL (automated vehicle locators) have been received as of Monday, April 22 and will soon be installed in vehicles. Sheriff has signed a contract with US Cellular to provide service for the AVL’s. He states all is going really well.
Commissioner Jennings reported that there are eight State Police in the County and that Preston County 911 Duane Hamilton works very well with the State Police—the only difference between the Sheriff and the SP is the color of their uniforms and the color of their vehicles—no battles between the deputies and troopers. There are 19 positions in the Sheriff’s Department and 8 SP—a total of 27 officers, averaging about 1 officer per 1,000 people. Preston has a population of approximately 33,000 and about 4,400 extended stays in Hazelton. Preston covers 456 square miles of territory.
The State Police Department has agreed to put AVL’s in their vehicles because of the good work relationship between the county and SP agencies.
Commissioner Jennings reported one K-9 (Blek) cost about $15,000 and we purchased a second K-9 (Snitch) for $1.00. Snitch was privately owned and is 9 years old and has 2-3 years left as a duty dog. Sheriff Loughrie also has a K-9.
Mr. Jennings reported the Sheriff has paid over-time of $100,000 which is $25,000 more than previous year. The purchase of two new vehicles are in the budget for this year. Purchased a total of 12 new vehicles in 18 months.
Also reported, the WV Legislature approval that every deputy have bullet-proof vest. Preston County has always outfitted our deputies with bullet-proof vest. The K-9s also have b/p vests.
Commissioner Jennings also that reported that there will be 300 new jobs available at the new prison and that they want to hire local people, no matter what your employment background you have. The pay around $40,000 per year. Anyone with higher education at all should apply.
Prosecuting Attorney Snyder continues to look for ways to have law enforcement presence in the North Preston Area by working with the Sheriff and Town Mayors and Councils. Consideration of the towns contributing to the sheriff’s department to help with the pay for the deputies, even on a part-time basis is possible with an appropriate legal contract. The cost would range between $35-$50.00 per hour.
Bernie McCourt made some very important comments about working together with the law enforcement agencies and the community, including the school-age children, parents and other family members to help to make our neighborhoods a safer place. Bernie has a wealth of information that could benefit everyone of us and we have invited him to return and and give us guidance on helping to make our families and communities safer.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40pm.