Future of Alamo Police Department Comes Up Again During March 17 Meeting

Several citizens attended Alamo City Council’s regular meeting March 17 seeking answers on the status of the municipality’s police department. By the time they had their say and heard from the Council, however, the citizens appeared to be satisfied that they would be kept in the communications loop.

Alamo resident Karen Safir came to the meeting with a petition bearing the signatures of several members of the community who oppose making changes in the status of the City Police Department. “If it is not broken, why fix it?” Safir asked.

Councilwoman Patricia Woodard, who said she represented the whole Council in making her remarks, noted that she wanted to dispel rumors on the street about the department’s future.

“We have not made a decision. We are nowhere near to making a decision,” she emphasized. “We are merely discussing ways to save money in all of our departments. This idea of merging the City Police Department with the Sheriff’s Department has come up many times before. The Sheriff is not trying to take over the Police Department. We went to him,” Woodard said.

Woodard assured Safir and other citizens attending the Council session that any decisions to be made in the future would involve strategizing what is best for the City of Alamo and would be well thought out by the Council, the police department, and citizens working together. She added, “The first priority is making sure we are all safe.” She told those present that the City of Alamo appreciates their interest and involvement. “We are here to represent you and to listen.”

The future of the Alamo City Police Department surfaced in a called meeting on January 6 where Council members discussed approaching new Wheeler County Sheriff Glenn Giles about the potential of the Sheriff’s Office absorbing the staff and operations of the Alamo Department. Sheriff Giles, who assumed his duties January 1, was asked to attend the January 6 session to answer questions and to provide insight, but he made it clear in the called session that he did not initiate the discussion. He said he was approached by three members of the Council who wanted to explore the unofficial proposal.

The matter became contentious because certain members of the Council, Alamo Police Chief Karen Zanders and her staff, and some members of the public attending the January 6 meeting said they were blindsided by the proposal. Zanders has recently been on medical leave and was absent from duties while her second in command, Sgt. Jamie Ricks, has been in charge. During the called meeting some members of the Council said they had not been previously consulted about changes in law enforcement, and several members of the public voiced their disapproval of the way the matter had been handled.

In the January 6 meeting, City Council member Steve Jones informed those in attendance that “several months ago we approached Sheriff Giles about the possibility of doing this (merging the departments). It was tried in the previous administration and the Sheriff at that time would not have anything to do with it.” Jones said that Sheriff Giles told the group of Council members with whom he met that he would entertain the idea. “We (Council members) talked… about having a question and answer session to gain information. That is why we are here. I just want to make it clear that Sheriff Giles did not come to us. We went to him.”

Councilwoman Woodard said at the January 6 session, “My take on this is that I don’t want to rush into anything. I want everything to be spelled out. How are we going to protect our current workers? How are we going to protect their retirement? I am all for making changes and saving money, but I do not think we have enough information to make this decision right now. I want us to bring citizens in and get their input, talk to Glenwood citizens (who contracted for coverage with the Wheeler County Sheriff some time ago) and get their input. All I ask is that we do this in the right manner. Acknowledge what we want and communicate.”

Councilwoman Laura Brownley, who recently assumed the position of Mayor Pro Tem, said January 6 that there has apparently been a misunderstanding of the intent. “We were just initiating the conversation. The plan was to investigate whether this could be done or not. We did not know if it could be done.”

Sheriff Giles noted that when he initially spoke with Council members, various issues were discussed, including manpower, office space, equipment, and the costs of transferring the City employees to the Sheriff’s Office. He said that a rough estimate of making this change might cost the City about $250,000, but that any figures for making the change are very preliminary. He emphasized that his current Sheriff’s Office budget would not support adding the City Department without monetary reinforcement.

“There is a lot to discuss if this happens, from uniforms to salaries to equipment,” the Sheriff said of the proposed change. There will also be a complex process of transferring evidence and records from one department to another, so nothing can be accomplished overnight, he added.

“We need to have a group conversation. First, Chief Zanders and I need to sit down and talk. This is not just about me. It involves your police staff and your chief,” the Sheriff emphasized. He concluded. “I am here to help, whatever you decide to do. The citizens of Alamo are citizens of Wheeler County, too.”

Chief Zanders, who has been at her job since 2021, commented during the called meeting. “No one has talked with me about this. I am not in agreement, but if this is what you want to do, I am not going to fight it. There are so many steps in closing a police department. You don’t just turn out the lights and close the door. We have evidence and pending cases. All of that has to be mitigated.”

The City of Alamo Police Department has a staff of two full-time officers, one part-time officer, and the Chief. In addition to struggling to obtain and keep officers, the Alamo Police Department has suffered tragedies in the past few years, with two officers passing away — one who was shot and killed during his first shift on the job.

Councilwoman Woodard said of the “why now?” question regarding the discussion, “This has been talked about for years… one of the reasons is the cost.” The Alamo Police Department has a projected budget of $301, 221.25 for the new year. Of that amount, $205,871.25 has been allocated for salaries.

Councilman Jones noted, “We cannot keep working our police full time and then ask them to work a lot of overtime. I don’t know how they work 12-hours shifts, but I appreciate them doing it, and we have paid them for it. But you want your officers sharp when they are on duty. They have lives away from Alamo. They have families to look after.”

New Sidewalks Downtown In other business, the Council approved the low bid of $99,536 from Concrete Construction, Inc., of Buckhead to add a new sidewalk on Railroad Street downtown. The sidewalk will front several businesses, including the post office, where the walkway has long been a sore point with citizens who have to navigate unlevel areas.

City Manager Jeff Floyd told the Council that work is expected to commence this spring and is being fully funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation and Transportation Investment Act programs. He said M.E. Sacks Engineering will oversee the project.

“The project will be done in phases so that the post office can remain open. Half of the sidewalk in front of the post office will be done, with one of the office’s front doors remaining open, then the second side will be done,” he explained. The sidewalk will be compliant with the American Disabilities Act, and handicapped parking in front of the post office will be redefined.

The sidewalk project will stretch along Railroad Street to the corner of Commerce Street (Georgia Highway 126), where continued from page

it will wrap around a building and extend down Commerce for a few feet, then cross Commerce to front the site of the former hardware store and City storage buildings. Sewer Grant Surveys, Budget Amendment Floyd said the City is reaching out to citizens to complete surveys that will facilitate a Community Development Block Grant. The grant, being administrated by Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission, will extend sewer lines to 18-19 customers who are already on City water but need sewer services. Floyd said the City’s share of the $1 million grant is $47,500, but an additional 170 surveys are required by April 1 to activate the project.

The surveys request information on the number of people in a household, household income, and other information to document need. The City planned an event for March 22 downtown to draw in residents and garner more responses to surveys.

• e Council ap proved amending the 2024 budget to accommodate overages totaling $66,335.27. These amendments included $34,383.03 for Legislative (Council); $3,011.38, Executive (Mayor); $2,659.51 Judicial (Traffic Court); $26,281.35, Police Department (digital outlay and equipment).

• Accountant Richard Deal of Statesboro will be rehired to conduct the City’s annual audit. Deal submitted an estimate of $12,000-$14,000 for the work.

• e Council agreed to advertise for a new city attorney to replace Russell Clark, who is retiring.

• e Council ap proved raises for city employees based on annual reviews/merit scale, retroactive to January 1.

• Spring cleanup week in the City is scheduled for April 21-25. A pull-off will be located downtown to collect debris and household items, (excluding hazardous materials and tires).

• May 17 was set as the date for a Senior Class parade downtown.

• e City Police De partment reported answering 33 calls in February.

• e Alamo Volunteer Fire Department reported answering 11 calls and its 10 certified firefighters completing 17 hours of training.