Gilbert, S.C. May Soon Have Its Own Police Department

Gilbert, S.C. May Soon Have Its Own Police Department

Hey there, folks! Big news coming out of Gilbert, S.C.! It looks like the town is making some serious moves towards establishing its very own police department. Can you believe it? Right now, they rely on the services of the Lexington Sheriff’s Department, but according to Mayor John Reeder, there’s definitely a need for a local force.

Why a Police Department? Growth and Safety

With the town seeing some pretty exciting growth lately, Mayor Reeder shared that having a dedicated police department could seriously help keep the community safe. He said, “We’re seeing a projected increase of about 4,000 new homes between Batesburg-Leesville and Lexington. The growth is happening fast, and it’s noticeable when you drive around.”

Reeder noted how important it is for the residents to feel secure, especially since they are currently dependent on outside help. “Our sheriff is doing the best he can, but he’s short on people,” he explained. “We need our crime investigated here. We want someone around all the time to keep an eye on things.”

The Funding Dilemma

Now, here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Setting up a local police department doesn’t come cheap, and that’s been a major hurdle discussed in past town council meetings. Mayor Reeder mentioned, “We’ve looked into it before, and we found out that the costs were higher than we anticipated. Initially, we thought we could handle it for about $10,000, but next year, that amount is projected to jump to around $20,000 due to rising insurance costs.”

Yikes! That’s a tough pill to swallow. The community understands the need but is worried about how they can afford it. The mayor mentioned that he’s been reaching out to state lawmakers for some potential funding help. It’s all about keeping the families in Gilbert safe, after all!

Community Support is Growing

It’s not just the mayor feeling optimistic; the residents are rallying behind the idea as well. There’s even a petition floating around that’s got a good amount of support. Local community member Christi Madeline chimed in on the whole situation, saying, “It would just be nice to have the comfort of knowing that if something ever happens, our officers are right here in town instead of having to wait for someone from Lexington to show up.”

Concerns about safety are everywhere, and with reports of thefts like trailers getting stolen, four-wheelers disappearing, and even catalytic converters being taken, the urgency for a police department is very real. Mayor Reeder believes having a patrol car visible in the community could make a “big difference.”

What’s Next?

The discussion on establishing this new police department isn’t going away anytime soon. The town council is set to revisit the topic at their next meeting, which is happening on September 9th. Everyone will be watching closely to see how things unfold. Will Gilbert finally get its own police department? Time will tell!

For now, the community watches out for each other as they wait for more updates. It’s a time of change, and like the mayor said, this growth needs to come along with safety measures to ensure everyone in Gilbert feels secure. Here’s hoping for some positive outcomes in the near future!