Taylortown Names New Police Chief, Two Officers Dismissed
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Taylortown has a new chief of police, but two veteran officers lost their jobs.
Chief Schirra Johnson took the oath of office Tuesday at the September session of the town council. He told the board he needed permission to hire contract reserve officers to fill a gap created by the town’s dismissal of two policemen including the interim chief, former patrol commander Sgt. Joseph Scott.
Scott and another officer had been fired before the meeting. No specific reasons were cited by Mayor Ulysses Simpson Grant Barrett Jr. or Councilman James Thompson, who is a retired Pinehurst police officer.
Under the mayor/council town charter, Thompson serves as Taylortown’s police commissioner. He had asked Scott to serve as interim chief while the town went through the required selection process to choose a successor to former Chief Damon Williams.
Williams left to become chief of police in the town of Maxton. He was present at the meeting and said things were going well on his new job, but he had no comment to make about Scott’s dismissal.
Scott was a command sergeant major in his last post before retiring from the Army and entering law enforcement. He made news last April when he worked with two passing motorists to put out the fire in a burning car where its driver was trapped inside on N.C. 211 near the entrance to Pinewild Country Club.
That fire victim, Watson Benjamin “Ben” Thomas, survived and is still recovering, his wife Brenda Thomas said last week. She has high praise for Scott and the others.
She said Scott calmed her down, put her safely in his patrol car and went back to fight the fire until fire and medical responders arrived.
Barrett had little to say about the town’s firing two officers.
“We decided to go a different way,” was the only comment the mayor would make.
In his first report to the council, Johnson may have given some hint as to possible concerns of town leaders about police services: an increase in town loitering on Main Street as well as Walker Street.
“An aggressive enforcement act will soon start to cut down on that activity,” Johnson said. “The department is under new development, and we hope to meet all of the town’s needs ASAP. We will also plan to continue aggressively enforcing traffic law on all Taylortown streets.”
Before Williams, the town had a succession of chiefs. One sued after his dismissal. Now the new chief finds himself with an understaffed force.
“With the recent dismissal of officers, I would like to have the board’s permission to seek applications for contract reserve officers to work when needed,” Johnson said. “This will help keep up police coverage. At present we are down to three officers and depending on availability town coverage is reduced.”
Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@gmail.com.
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Comments
ThinkingMan 2 years, 7 months ago
Very sad day for Taylortown residents!! It is very sad to see the corruption in Taylortown ruining any possibilities of that town living up to it's potential. Chief Williams cleaned up the town, and drastically improved the department, now the board "votes" to go in a different direction? I say again this is a very sad day for Taylortown!! May God help them!!
This is most certainly only one side of the story!! Be rest assured there will be more to come!!
recondo 2 years, 7 months ago
Sure makes perfect sense to me. fire a hero and hire a puppet who will do the bidding of the town board and mayor. Just ask ex Chief Blake im sure he would be glad to explain how the criminal element has taken over the entire system in taylortown. Unless you are an certified officer who cannot get a job anywhere else in the state my advice is to dont waste your application even for an auxillary position if you value your career
ThinkingMan 2 years, 7 months ago
I see recondo sees the picture real clearly!! I'm telling you, Taylortown is in BIG trouble with the folks they have in charge!!
LEO1 2 years, 7 months ago
Well here we go again. Taylortown in the news again, it just goes to show that some people can’t run a town. To Scott we appreciate all that you have done for the Sheriff’s Office, good luck in the future. I read Barrett’s comments about a new direction; well I think he is right. Taylortown need a new government, starting with the mayor. The things I hear about this new chief is not to good. Poor choices by poor leaders, that the story of Taylortown.
4whatitsworth 2 years, 7 months ago
Maybe one day T-town will have a real police department. Or maybe they should just spend all that money contracting with the Sheriff's Office to provide Deputies. Where were these Officers when the Bank was robbed? Has anyone ever talked to employees at the businesses in Olmstead and asked how the coverage with the PD is? I have personally talked to a business owner that said they called and left a message for Chief Williams that went unanswered for 2 weeks. Thats an awesome response time. Has anyone ever seen these Officers in Aberdeen or Southern Pines on their dinner break? I have several times and not just fast food places. Must be nice to take a good hour and a half break while you are on duty to get a steak. Do the Officers need a meal break? Absolutely. Do they need to stay in their own town while doing so? I think most if not all other Departments do. T-town is not just an 8-5 town. I hope the new staff will realize that . I think the first thing the new Chief needs to do is push for 24hr coverage.
wowitsjashon 2 years, 7 months ago
we're not going to be able to stand on the hill any more ? what in the hell? *runs to the hill on main street and pitches a tent *
LEO1 2 years, 7 months ago
I believe if you look back you will find that chiefs Blakely, Shamburger and Williams have all tried to convince the Taylortown Council to give them the funding for fulltime coverage. They were all denied. You cannot blame the police departments for the lack of funding. I have to blame the councilmen and the Mayor. It's their lack of leadership that has caused the Taylortown police department to be in the condition it is in today A second example if the Robins Police department. These department have good officers but no funding. I am not sure if it was a bright idea to fire good veteran officers, but that's what happens when you have a con man sitting in the mayor seat. I have met the new chief and i am not impressed with any officer who bad months his fellow officer.
wowitsjashon 2 years, 7 months ago
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ThinkingMan 2 years, 7 months ago
LEO1 has hit the nail on the head!! The only problems T-town PD had was the Mayor and town council. I too have met the new Chief and be rest assured he has not shown me anything that impresses me. I have very little respect for him due to what I know of him.
BTW: Thompson is by far not on the top of my list of Officers I admire either. Maybe before folks just write him in as good former Officer of the law they should find out how and why his career ended!! It is very interesting if you. Can find out the truth. He left some carnage behind. him when Pinehurst helped him with his retirement decision.
JohnChappell 2 years, 7 months ago
The actual number of officers who were dismissed, or who resigned, has not been confirmed — other than that there was more than one and the correct number is not two, per the chief. In the meeting he only referred to "dismissals" (plural) but did not specifically say how many were fired.
The dismissal came Sept. 20 during a closed session at a called meeting of the town council, according to the town clerk. The Pilot has requested notification of all called meetings but received no notice of this meeting.
Damon Williams is now chief of police at Maxton which just got a $200,000 grant and $948,500 loan from USDA to construct a police station.
realview 2 years, 7 months ago
JUST WONDERING WHY MY COMMENTS WERE NOT POSTED JUST THE NEGATIVE ONES. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COMMENTS THAT WERE IN FAVOR AND WHO KNOWS THE WORK THE NEW CHIEF HAD BEEN DOING FOR THE TOWN. OR DOES THE PILOT ONLY POST BAD REVIEWS?
realview 2 years, 7 months ago
WHY NOT A NEW CHIEF? THEY HAD FOUR MONTHS AFTER WILLIAMS LEFT IN APRIL AND THE INTRIEM CHIEF HAS DONE NOTHING BUT SIT IN THE STATION. IT HAS BEEN ASKED, IS PLAYING FARMVILLE AND FACEBOOK VIEWING AND MAYBE JUST EVEN WATCHING A LITTLE PORN ON THE INTERNET IS GOOD POLICE WORK. WAIT THATS GOOD POLICE WORK RIGHT?.......... IN FACT THE TOWN WAS NOT EVEN COVERED BY HIM BUT I BET YOU SAW THE TAYLORTOWN POLICE CAR ALL OVER FAYETTEVILLE. MUST BE DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO PERSON........ IS ANYONE EVEN GOING TO GIVE THE NEW CHIEF A CHANCE TO DO ANYTHING OR JUST TRASH HIM IN THE PRESS? MAYBE THE SO CALLED HERO WAS NOT DOING WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSE TO. PEOPLE GET RELEASED FOR A REASON OR LET GO OR ASKED TO LEAVE, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO HIM OR THEM EVERYONE IS QUICK TO JUMP ON THE TRASH WAGON, DO YOU EVEN KNOW THE NEW PERSON THEY HIRED AS CHIEF? ....... DIDN'T THINK SO, THE PROOF IS IN WHAT THE NEW STAFF DOES NOT WHAT THE OLD ONES DID NOT OR FAILED TO DO...... JUST ANOTHER REAL VIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
realview 2 years, 7 months ago
NOBODY WILL NOT SAY THAT CHIEF WILLIAMS AND SCOTT DID NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE TOWN BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY SOMETHING HAPPEND, FOR CHIEF WILLIAMS A NEW CITY TO WATCH OVER HOPEFULLY BETTER THEN HE DID FOR TAYLORTOWN FOR SCOTT, IT IS WHAT IT IS..... PEOPLE GET RELEASED FOR A REASON IF HE WAS RELEASE OR LET GO OR WHAT EVER HAPPENED, TO HIM AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN................JUST ANOTHER REAL VIEW......................... GO OR BAD BUT IS REAL
clearmind 2 years, 7 months ago
It's bad the way thay are But some of you think all the Taylortown officers spend their time in the office on facebook or farmville. From what i have seen there are those who spend most of their time patroling the street. It seems to me those guys are being put down for something they have no control over. The new chief like always everyone wants to trash his name. Let me ask you this has anyone of you worked or talk to him or are you just gona write trash about the guy. I say give him a chance but To call the man a puppet is childish.
recondo 2 years, 7 months ago
i take it back the new chief may be a fine cop but as a former small town police chief i speak from experence that mayors and town councils do not just choose a new chief based on how great a job he does or how many arrests or convictions he gets. they look at the larger picture of how much is he going to fight us when we deny his budget, is he going to be one to speak to the press when asked about "private town matters" etc now if a normal town not suspected of deep corruption stacks the deck i can damn well assure you a town that has the problems taylortown does will double the effort to find someone who they can control to the upmost. like i said it makes perfect sense to me for the town to fire the one officer who actually was credited for a great deed and bought a little positive publicity to the town in exchange for one no one has ever heard of.... Politics. I pray that the new chief will do a good job and prescribe to the addage FAIR AND EQUAL Distribution of the law
147 2 years, 7 months ago
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147 2 years, 7 months ago
also to all you haters thats out of contact about the fake cops that were dismissed from taylortown would really be surprised at there background and the things that they do in the night. Dont talk about the new chief if you dont know him because everybody is going to be surprised about what he is about to do. So lets give the new chief a thumbs up from coming in here trying to clean up the trash that williams and scott messed up. (Smile, your only computer) dont hate appreciate
LEO1 2 years, 7 months ago
Sounds like somebody was arrested by the cops uh 147.
Bflat 2 years, 7 months ago
A lot of women driving through were constantly being stopped. Oops.
wowitsjashon 2 years, 7 months ago
I've never had a problem with any of the police officers here in taylortown :}
notpcinanyway 2 years, 7 months ago
This is Taylortown.....what do you expect from a place that has 8 to 5 coverage. I see the officers down at Walmart more then i have ever seen them on patrol.
xemrac 2 years, 7 months ago
Always been a joke...always will be.
recondo 2 years, 7 months ago
Lol the term Haters told me everything i needed to know
jaye 2 years, 7 months ago
In life everybody has two sides just like peoples opinions,what I may like you won't.As far as Taylortown goes,the things that happen here happens everywhere,but the only difference is if it's negative the outside world multiplies it by twenty.It's sad that most times people view us as a one horse town full of uneducated folks,but let the slightest negative news come up and then it's like we are some wild animals with an outbreak of some kind.Truth is we're going to always go through changes,because the community changes.Sadly the town council does not get credit for the amazing job it's doing in a time when funding that was almost guaranteed we can't get.The police personnel that we've had in nut shell use us as a stepping stone to better careers.People remember before you get mad and shout out your opinion to the world think about how it's going to affect you/us in the long run.Once in print in the news if your information was wrong you can't just say oops and you could be seriously hurt your family or friends that live here.
wackk 2 years, 7 months ago
Well Jaye, the town council (the mayor) is about to let Pinesage developement de-annex from Taylortown. That will cost Taylortown @ $150,000 per year in taxes. Plus + he's willing to pay an extra $150,000 to connect Pinesage to the Moore County Water supply. How's that for an amazing job??? The people of Pinesage get less Police protection than Taylortown, no water pressure, and ignored by the council. So, they're going to give their money (taxes) to Pinehurst.
realview 2 years, 7 months ago
SHORTY... VERY UPSETTING TO KNOW THAT CORRUPTION EXIST IN FIRST WORLD COUNTRY SUCH AS OURS... THE OFFICER/S WHO WERE/ WAS DISMISSED OR RELEASED KNOW/S WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO THE COMMUNITY. THERE WERE OBVIOUSLY HEARSAYS ABOUT THESE OFFICERS, WHY NOT FIND PROOF AND EVIDENCE AND BRING IT TO THE COURT OF LAW? THIS WAY WE KNOW WHO DID AND DIDN'T WHAT...THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE AND THE ONLY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANYBODY OR SOMEBODY OUT THERE WHO IS WILLING TO BRING IT UP ON THE TABLE???THERE WAS A REASON FOR HER/ HIS/THEIR EXIT AND I'M SURE IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE HE/ SHE/ THEY WERE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME OVER FACEBOOK OR YOUTUBE OR WATCHING SOAPS... HE/ SHE/THEY WAS/WERE POLICE OFFICERS AFTERALL, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING BIG...
LEO1 2 years, 7 months ago
If the officers were fired then a reason should be given. If I were Scott I would sue Taylortown just like Blakely. For all of you who sit at home while the police are keeping you safe, be thankful someone wants to do this job. It is thankless job and people like some of the posters on the site make it harder.
clearmind 2 years, 7 months ago
I have spoken with the new chief once and the he seems to be a nice guy. He has an amazing background. I think he will make a great chief so I think everyone should give him a chance. I have been around here for sometime and have heard people bash Taylortown police officers and including the sgt and chief. Maybe every Taylortown chief is gona be talked about. I know you say dont waste your application on Talortown but I say to all you New comers you got to start somewhere and if the new chief called me right now I would go with no delay. To the pilot why dont you contact the new chief set up a time and hear a real life story. Heros come and go I have once been there and asked a friend to take the credit for it and to this day it stays that way.