Sheriff’s Department Program Proved to Reduce Crime

By Crystal Vandegrift, Staff Writer

FARMVILLE – Prince Edward CountySheriff Wesley Reed addressed the Board of Superiors Tuesday night telling them that his departments At-Will program has proved to be helpful to Prince Edward County.

The At-Will program provides benefits other than financial and traffic enforcement in the county.

It frees deputies from routine traffic duties to concentrate on other law enforcement duties – crime prevention, solving crimes and increasing visibility and availability of law enforcement personnel throughout the county.

It is a no-cost program that effectively increases the number of deputies working during a shift.

“This program has proved to be very effective,” said Sheriff Reed. “It gives more police presence in the community which is a deterrent for crime.”

For FY17 the At-Will program has cost a total of $70,726. According to the County Administrator’s office, fines actually collected from the program for this Fiscal Year totaled $189,570.

“As has been the case since the program has started, it is self-funded.” Said County Administrator, Wade Bartlett. “After a period of personnel shortages the Sheriff was at full staff and able to man this program as had been done in the past. This increased the number of deputies available which resulted in more cost, which was still under the budgeted amount. While the cost escalated the increased number of patrols resulted in a greater number of tickets being written which increased the revenues attributed to this program.”