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The town of Mocksville, North Carolina will eliminate their entire police department, effective June 30.
On Tuesday, the Town Board voted unanimously in favor of letting the Davie County Sheriff’s Office take over duties as the primary police force in Mocksville.
The move to downsize will dissolve roughly 20 jobs and save taxpayers more than $4 million over the next 10 years.
Among the changes includes a $1.3 million contract awarded to the sheriff’s department. Town leaders say it will increase their “boots on the ground” coverage by 75% and eliminate duplication of services, “allowing the town to use resources more efficiently and effectively.” According to the FBI, the rate of full-time law enforcement employees (civilian and sworn) per 1,000 inhabitants was 3.5, based on a 2012 survey.
Even with the cost savings, some people in Mocksville aren’t happy with the divisive vote.
“It was more of a political issue before it ever became a budgetary issue. They are using the budgetary issue to get rid of the police department for other reasons that started long before the budget was on the table,” said Brandon McGaha of the N.C. Police Benevolent Association.
The Davie County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement:
“The Town of Mocksville contacted the Davie County Sheriff’s Office in the later part of 2020 and inquired regarding the possibility of contracting law enforcement services through the Sheriff’s Office. The Davie County Sheriff’s Office provided the town various proposals for those services at their specific request.
“The Sheriff’s Office has provided proposals for other towns in Davie County in the past, and currently has a contract in place with the Town of Bermuda Run. Similarly, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has several contracts with Forsyth County towns for law enforcement services, as do other Sheriff’s Offices across the State.
“On May 4th, 2021 the Town Council of Mocksville voted to contract with the Davie County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services beginning July 1, 2021.
“The Sheriff’s Office will work with the Mocksville Police Department during the transition phase, and all Officers employed by the Mocksville Police Department are welcome to apply for employment with the Davie County Sheriff’s Office.Our number one priority is to maintain a high level of service and response to meet the needs of the Mocksville residents and businesses, as well as all the citizens of Davie County.”
Mockville has a population of just over 5,000 people and is halfway between Statesville and Winston-Salem on I-40. The town is the birthplace of NFL/NASCAR Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs.
