THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080429
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 65 lines
Citizens beware if conditions at the Police Department don't improve, declares Councilwoman Anita Hummer. Citizens are as well-protected as ever, says Police Chief Herman L. Bunch.
Nine officers have left the force since June 1, causing a manpower shortage that Hummer says leaves the city unprotected. Although she's not critical of Bunch, Hummer maintains low pay and heavy workloads have created a crisis of poor morale at the Police Department.
``The morale seems lower than I've ever noticed it,'' Hummer said Wednesday. ``I could foresee a large-scale walkout of police a couple of weeks ago. I've had a lot of phone calls from people concerned they are not protected.''
Calling for more officers at Monday's City Council meeting, Hummer called the police problem ``a train wreck coming down the track.''
``I probably would not agree with that assessment,'' said Bunch. ``But I am on record in requesting more people.''
Over the past three years, Bunch has asked the council for a total of 17 new officers. The council granted him four. At full staff, the department is four officers below the average of 14 for other cities its size in North Carolina, according to a report in the 1995 edition of Crime in North Carolina. Hummer says the city is nine below the national average.
The state crime report also indicates Elizabeth City has one of the lowest crime rates. Bunch says the city is still in good hands.
``We're getting plenty of productivity per man,'' he said. ``The output of our officers is on par with any department in the state. I think morale is something a person brings with him to work. An individual's attitude goes with him wherever he goes.''
In response to the recent losses, the council requested City Manager Steven Harrell to survey officers for morale problems. He has interviewed nearly every officer.
``In general, what I'm finding out is a concern with workload,'' said Harrell. ``Some of it is normal attrition. I would say this many men leaving is in the high range. But the public safety is being looked after.''
At full staff, officers work on one of four seven-man squads. Each squad works a 12-hour shift and works no more than three consecutive days. With the manpower shortage, Bunch organized three six-man squads and one five-man squad. Bunch plans to assign some of the nonsquad officers to patrol duty.
Of the nine officers who left ECPD, four took other jobs, three have or will retire and two were discharged. Bunch said he's already hired two officers. Harrell said six more will join the force within the next two months.
``You're always going to lose people in June, July and August because that's when fiscal governments get new budgets and hire people,'' said Bunch. ``We've lost some good, experienced people, but I can do nothing but support them. They're trying to improve their station in life by going to better opportunities.''
``By and large, most of the cities try to keep close tabs on personnel pay,'' said Bob Crowder, membership services consultant with the North Carolina League of Municipalities. ``It's a whole lot more expensive to replace than it is to retain.''
The average career span of a police officer is only five years anyway, said Bunch. Elizabeth City often loses experienced officers to other agencies that offer higher positions. Beginning pay scales don't differ that much. In 1995, Kill Devil Hills and Dare County paid beginning officers more than $21,000 a year, among the highest salaries in the region. Elizabeth City, a larger force in a larger city, pays a new officer $20,520 after six months.
``Police work is naturally a low-paying position,'' said Bunch. ``That's not going to change. Each man hired is aware of that.'' by CNB