A home invasion in McCaysville with the lives of three hostages hanging in the balance. An armed robbery followed by a high speed chase that puts hundreds of lives in danger in Blue Ridge. A mother and her three-year-old son murdered outside Morganton.
The atrocities that were only big city news years ago, things that no one imagined could never happen here, do happen here.
The peace and quiet of Fannin County and its cities is not immune from crimes that make good people shiver.
When these crimes happen, people expect law enforcement to come to the rescue. They expect nothing less than what they would get in the big cities – quick response and plenty of it.
Law enforcement does come. No matter what is happening, deputies and police officers go head first into situations from which most folks would turn tail and run. And they do it every day without regard for their own lives.
Every encounter that could have gone badly does not make it into the pages of the newspaper. That’s thanks to the professionalism of local law enforcement personnel who stop bad things before they happen. But they face the possibilities all the same.
Every officer, every department deserves more support than they receive.
Right now in Fannin County, McCaysville and Blue Ridge its budget time. County and city officials are pouring over numbers, most of them with the idea of cut, cut, cut. And often those officials focus on public safety with erasers. That’s wrong. Law enforcement needs and deserves every penny it asks for and creating a “cut” atmosphere puts leaders in an awkward position.
Every deputy sheriff, every police officer in Fannin County, Blue Ridge and McCaysville is underpaid. Every department works diligently to do the very best job they can, but the fact is that just keeping pace with what is taking place absorbs every resource at every level.
Law enforcement needs to be ahead of this curve. It needs to be funded at a level that is proactive with enough public presence to stop crime before it happens and not just respond when it does.
There is plenty of money to give law enforcement everything it needs at every level in Fannin County and the cities. Don’t think for a second there isn’t.
Those with the final say so on the budgets, county commissioners and city councils, need to do their part and fund all public safety – law enforcement, fire protection and ambulance service – to the level all deserve and not just a level to get by.
When it’s your home being invaded, your store being robbed, your house on fire or your loved one having a heart attack you want help and you want it quickly.
The men and women doing the job do their very best. They deserve more.
Elected officials are ultimately responsible. Tell them to do what they should. Tell them to fully fund public safety.