The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
Residents urged City Council members Tuesday to put aside differences with Sheriff Bill Watson and find the money to bring back his community enforcement unit.
About 40 to 50 people, some with hand-made signs, showed up to support the seven-member unit that Watson started two years ago to fight crime in neighborhoods, often independently from the police.
The team was disbanded last month in light of a deficit it was running to the city's general fund. Revenue from federal inmates was supposed to pay for the program, but the number of inmates was no longer supporting the cost, which amounted to around $400,000 a year.
More than a dozen people spoke in favor of the unit, many of them with stories of how it has helped reduce crime in their neighborhoods. Several speakers came from Cradock; others were from Park View, Cavalier Manor and Brighton/Prentis Park.
"My family did not feel safe in this neighborhood until this team was put together," said Johnathan Morrell of Cradock.
Bill Grimsley, a member of the unit who said he was laid off, fought back tears as he spoke about what the unit meant to the community. "I did not know until I got laid off... how much these residents appreciated what we're doing, until they shook my hands at Food Lion last week, saying, 'Thank you.' "
Council members expressed frustration recently with what they described as Watson's constant threats to pull services to get funding, as well as his accusations that council members and city staff have lied.
They have said that they support the sheriff's unit, but it was no longer paying for itself with federal inmates.
Watson has contended for weeks that he could pay for it with a new contract to secure more federal inmates, but first he wanted an assurance from the city that he could keep a portion of the extra revenue from the deal.
On Tuesday, council members said that deal from the federal government was no longer on the table. Vice Mayor Bill Moody Jr. said it apparently fell apart because the federal program required a jail that was being constructed, renovated or added onto.
"No one has said we do not support the CEU unit," Councilman Charles B. Whitehurst Sr. said.
The challenge is to find the money for the unit without raising taxes, he said.
Council members at their last meeting directed staff to inquire about beefing up the police department's neighborhood impact officer program to compensate for the loss of the sheriff's squad.
In response, Police Chief Ed Hargis said Tuesday that he planned to increase that unit by seven officers. It currently has 15 officers, three sergeants and one lieutenant.
The additions would come over the course of the next year.
Dave Forster, (757) 446-2627, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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point in question...see the
point in question...see the comments from sep1966...thanks for your cut and paste comments...I stand by my comments..
RECALL WATSON
RECALL WATSON!!!
Watson tells everyone that he lives in the City of Portsmouth on GEE St.I have been by his house on Gee St about 25 times over the past 6 months and have never seen him there,working in the yard or just hanging out in the yard. No I don't sit in my truck and watch the house like a deputy. I have seen him at his house in Isle of Wright county were his wife spends 99% of her time. If you are going to act like a citizen of Portsmouth then you should live at least 99% of your time off in Portsmouth and buy your GAS,FOOD,CLOTHING,HARDWARE,etc in the City that pays your salary!!!! I was in home depot the other day and saw Watson walk by,thought to myself should'nt he be in Lowes? RECALL WATSON!!!! Last summer I was driving down I164 heading west and WATSON passed me like I was standing still, I sped up to get a better look and when I looked down at the speedo I was doing 95mph, wish I could break the LAW and get away with it!!!!RECALL WATSON!!!!! BEFORE ITS TO LATE!!!!
RECALL
Recall Holley Psimas Whitehurst Heretick Moody Randall Smith Because they dont care about the CITIZENS of PORTSMOUTH and our SAFETY
Really? So instead lets
Really?
So instead lets install Ted Lamb who's only concern is Cradock and who already shown hell pander for votes?
Or Instead perhaps Steve Carrol whos tone is so negative and angry that he came in dead last during the last council race and who now has also proven he will pander for votes based on his comments at the 3/9 council meeting
Perhaps David Vass who hasnt even resided in the city for 2 full years...doesnt own property and has serious financial issues?
Ya I certainly want someone handling a multi million dollar budget when they cant even manage their own checkbook...
I demand transparency from my candidates and I demand they be honest and able to make wise financial decisions..none of the listed 3 have those qualities
CRAZYTOWN
ALL OF YOU PEOPLE SOUND CRAZY! Stop the bickering and lying on each other...Police Officers and Deputies need EVERYONES SUPPORT! They do a great job. SOME of you are Law Enforcement Officers writing this stuff. It's like airing dirty laundry. Sit down and talk to each other and not at each other. You need to sit back and read some of the comments you people are saying to each other. i.e. (PTOWNLE) I don’t know you but, you sound like you ran against the Sheriff in the last election and lost. If you are a LEO you have too much time on your hands writing all this crazy stuff. You should be happy the Sheriff has LEO on the street helping out.
just as seekingtruth
just as seekingtruth mentioned its time fo Portsmouth residents to stand together and speak against this sheriff and his corrupt actions
how dare he slander a Portsmouth detective
how dare he call a citizen paranoid and insinuate he should be arrested for exercising his first amendment right
how dare he accuse our properly elected officials of lying and conspiring
how dare he and his crony pals harass olde towne business owners and law enforcement officers from other cities
Its time to arrange a lawful peaceful protest in front of the sheriffs office, we need to start a face book page and organize to begin a recall of this buffoon.
The Sheriff And his Pit Viper
I write this being discussed in what I heard the other night.
I sit in my civic league meeting and listen to the cruel statements made by the sheriff and his pit viper, cherry, in regards to past candidates and our current governing body I became angry. The attacks on those individuals, and the reactions from my peers, proved to be a very sad thing.
The young man they spoke of, ran against the sheriff and as I recall he stated that the funds for that unit, and the documented reports that the unit took did not mix and it cost to much. He also stated that it needed to be reorganized and looked at again because of those costs. He also stated that the sheriff needs to focus on mandated duties and after that other tasks can be done. What is the crime in that? The sheriff and his Viper, Cherry, hold a grudge. Well Now look at City Council, they did not speak bad about the unit, they just stated facts about funding. Now the sheriff attacks them and members of the PD. Citizens of the Manor do not listen to these statements from the Sheriff and cherry , it is spoken with forked tongue.
There are now 6 separate
There are now 6 separate official complaints that have been filed with the USDOJ...stand by for swift action on the part of the feds to determine Bill Watson and Lee Cherry's involvement in any illegal or unethical behaviors.
Put it on the record....
Although it's years away, will anyone considering a future run against our Sheriff be willing to come forward, and state "on the record", that they would ELIMINATE ALL DEPUTY positions, not working in Court Security, as Jailors, or in the Civil Process division? Plenty of folks want to speak in support of previously defeated candidates, but I bet not a single candidate will run on a platform (and win), by vowing to ELIMINATE a large number of Deputy positions, CUT services to the CITIZENS, and run the Office of Sheriff independent of any costs-sharing by the City. Potential candidates: please step forward personally, or through representatives, and publicly avow this bold position.
Mr. Carrol If you are
Mr. Carrol If you are willing to allocate these funds, which in my opinion a waste of taxpayers dollars during these hard times, then you don't have my vote. THANK YOU to the current city council for finally stepping up and prudently managing our tax payers dollars. Keep up the good work. You all have my vote this year.