By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire
Henderson Police Chief Marcus W. Barrow and District Attorney Michael D. Waters, with the 9th Judicial District, recently spoke on-air with WIZS to provide updates on their respective offices and discuss the recent uptick in homicides in Vance County.
According to Barrow, the most recent homicide cases, which took place in two separate incidents on Harrell Street and Merriman Street in Henderson, are still part of an ongoing investigation.
The District Attorney’s Office has been involved in all of Henderson’s 2018 homicides, according to Waters, and often works in collaboration with the police department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and highway patrol to solve such cases.
“My office tries to get involved early in order for the cases to go to trial sooner,” said Waters.
The recent rise in homicides and the level of investigation such cases require makes the department’s personnel shortage that much more concerning. According to Barrow, the Henderson Police Department is currently down by 13 law enforcement agents – roughly 20 percent of the department’s workforce.
“What hurts the most is that we are losing experienced officers,” Barrow said. “We predicted this issue last year when I went before council and requested pay raises in an effort to right the ship and fix the issues.”
Barrow stated that he does not feel that the problem was handled quickly enough, resulting in officers taking higher paying jobs with better benefits in other towns.
Waters further explained that the shortage of personnel is not unique to Henderson and Vance County, but is currently a state-wide issue. “Most law enforcement agencies in the 9th District and all over North Carolina are looking to hire right now. There are shortages in police departments, FBI and in the highway patrol,” Waters said.
According to Waters, this shortage is due, in part, to a smaller pool of available certified law enforcement officers. “Fewer candidates available for law enforcement positions makes jobs more competitive,” said Waters.
Such staff reductions have necessitated a review of police department policies and priorities to determine how and when a call is handled. “If you have a larceny, for example, that occurs and the person has already left, you might receive a phone call [instead of a visit],” said Barrow. “Non-emergency calls may have to be put on the back burner.”
In addition to staff turnover, the police department is also short on available personnel when an officer is involved in a lengthy investigation.
“Police officers often get tied up in the investigation of cases and that is an additional drain on available personnel,” Waters said. “We need to be conscious of using officers’ time wisely in court.”
According to both Barrow and Waters, one way in which the public can assist the police department and help with the issue of crime in the community is to serve jury duty.
“Over the last year in Vance County, we have attempted to try cases and have run out of available jurors several times,” said Waters. “One thing people can do to help is to serve and participate when they receive their notice of jury duty.”
Barrow believes the current relationship between law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office benefits the community and helps solve cases faster. “What Mike Waters has created with the District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement in the 9th District is amazing and has greatly improved our relationship,” Barrows said.
Waters credits that collaboration with quick convictions, “This year we’ve tried two murder cases and gotten two convictions which we’re very proud of and demonstrates the hard work of the offices involved with those cases.”
In order to be successful, Barrow believes those interested in joining the police department should possess, “maturity, a love for the community, an interest in investigation, the ability to see cases through to their conclusion, a calm mind and a level head.”
A passion for the job and serving others also helps. “Law enforcement is a career where you have to love what you’re doing and stay the course,” said Barrow. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”