Gilbert, S.C. Takes Steps Toward Establishing Own Police Department
Hey there, folks! So, we’ve got some buzz going on in Gilbert, South Carolina. The town is *seriously* considering setting up its very own police department. Right now, the local law enforcement is handled by the Lexington Sheriff’s Department, and according to Mayor John Reeder, that might not be enough anymore—especially with all the growth happening in the area.
Mayor Reeder Speaks Up
Mayor Reeder is leading the charge by expressing his thoughts on the need for better local policing to keep the community safe. “We’re not gonna be able to do it by ourselves unless we annex, and although we do need to annex to protect our citizens here with what’s going on with the growth and all, I want that to be something everybody’s happy with,” he said. It looks like he understands that simply bringing in a larger police force isn’t a walk in the park.
Funding Is a Struggle
One of the big elephants in the room is, you guessed it, funding. Mayor Reeder mentioned that funds are tight, and starting a new police department isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. “We had tried to get one for a little while, and we just found out that the amount of money it was going to take to do it, we’d be able to run it for a little while, when it wouldn’t be long, with the cost of insurance going up,” Reeder explained. Just to give you an idea, the insurance costs are projected to double from $10,000 to $20,000 in the upcoming year.
Growth Means More Need for Protection
The town is expecting a *significant* influx of new residents, with the county forecasting more than 4,000 new houses popping up between adjacent towns. “The growth, you can see it as you drive out of here. It’s all over the place, and a lot of people are coming in,” Reeder explained. All this new population makes it all the more essential to have local law enforcement that’s readily available to respond to crimes and community needs.
Community Voices
Local residents also seem to think it’s about time for a change. Community member Christi Madeline stated that having a police department could bring back a sense of safety to the town. “It would just be nice to know again, like comfort and knowing that if something ever happened, they were right there. Instead of people coming from Lexington,” she said.
Starting a Petition
It’s not just talk anymore! According to Mayor Reeder, residents have already started gathering signatures for a petition supporting the establishment of a police department in Gilbert. Plus, he’s been reaching out to state lawmakers in hopes they might lend a helping hand in securing some funds for the new agency.
Looking Forward
Reeder shared some concerns about rising crime rates in Gilbert, mentioning issues like stolen trailers, four-wheelers, and catalytic converters. He believes that just having a police car patrolling the area could *significantly* improve the situation. “Right now, we just got a community. They watch out for each other, but having that police car drive around, it’s going to make a big difference,” he noted.
What’s Next?
The next big discussion on this topic will be at the town council meeting scheduled for September 9th. So, stay tuned—Gilbert might just be on its way to having its very own police force. Wouldn’t that be something?
It’s a *busy* time for Gilbert, and the people are clearly eager for change. As town leaders and residents come together to figure this all out, many are hopeful that the future holds a safer, more secure Gilbert!
