LATTA, S.C. (WBTW)-Last month, News13 reported the town was in debt for almost $160,000 in unpaid taxes. In order to get out of the hole the mayor suggested cutting some jobs. The mayor suggested cutting positions at the Latta police department and that’s something officers and citizens alike don’t feel comfortable with.
“If someone breaks in, and you don’t have the right resources then what happens,” said Barbara Murray.
Those are Barbara Murray’s concerns after Thursday night’s town council meeting.
Murray has lived in Latta for almost twenty years and after hearing the town may have to cut down on officers, that leaves her feeling uneasy.
“My biggest concern is the danger for the elderly and those who don’t have anyone in the home with them.”
The town currently has nine officers that serve the community.
“Those nine are doing a great job, they can’t be everywhere but we are secure knowing we do have nine that we can call.”
And while citizens are satisfied with those nine, Latta’s assistant police chief Derrick Cartwright says they are still short-handed.
“With the financial situation with the town, myself and the chief are having to fill in out on the street, the town has placed us on a hiring freeze from hiring a tenth officer which is our normal staff.”
Cartwright says just losing one would be detrimental to the department.
“It’s going to put us in a bind period as far as officer safety, citizen safety and that’s what we’re looking after.”
Mayor Earl Bullard said the population of Latta is 1,368 people and according to him, that means one officer for every 152 citizens which is more than what surrounding places have.
“Towns around us, the city of Dillon has seven thousand people and 27 officers. That’s one officer for every 259 people.”
And while the people of Latta and officers aren’t on the same page as the mayor, they know they’ll get on the other side of this debt.
“As a community we have to pull together and help one another and if we do that we can come out on top.”
We did reach out to mayor Earl Bullard for comment today about cutting positions but he didn’t return our calls. Council members told us today they have to save money somewhere but cutting down on the police department isn’t the way they want to go about it.
