Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503300048
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
By week's end, Kelly plans to have one deputy per shift assigned to a new patrol district that will be bounded by Hollins, Troutville and Daleville.
Kelly's thinking is that since the majority of the county's police calls come from the area around the interstate exit, he might as well concentrate one officer to the area.
"We hope to be proactive rather than reactive," Kelly said. "The officer could respond to any call in the district within three to four minutes."
Kelly told the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors Tuesday that adding the officer will be easier because the county will get federal funds to supplement the new officer's salary and benefits.
He said growth around the exchange makes the need for an emergency response more likely. About half of the banks in the county are in the district, which was outlined by Kelly and Capt. Gary Guilliams, the department's patrol supervisor.
Convenience stores, some of which stay open all night, also are scattered along the U.S. 220 and U.S. 11 corridors near the exchange. Convenience stores have always been easy targets for robbers, especially when a network of primary highways makes for an easy getaway, Kelly said.
"We're just ripe for a robbery."
Exit 150 has other problems. Truck traffic, some of the heaviest in Virginia, creates a bottleneck where more accidents can occur, he said.
Kelly said traffic control and speeding top the list of complaints he's had from citizens.
Currently, the Sheriff's Department uses four platoons, comprised of a sergeant and several road deputies to cover the county 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. One of the platoons historically has been one officer short, making the adjustments that Kelly is implementing difficult.
But the county has been notified that it will get federal assistance to help with the salary and benefits of one officer for the next three years under provisions of the Crime Bill passed by Congress last year.
The board of supervisors allocated $6,710, which will be matched with about $20,000 of federal money to pay salary and benefits for the new officer.
Kelly said it could be as long as three months before the officer is hired.
by CNB