Police, fire heads discuss accomplishments, needs with City Council

Feb. 24--During their annual retreat, City Council members heard from Henderson's police and fire chiefs about their department's biggest accomplishments over the past year and their biggest needs in the upcoming fiscal year.

Fire Chief Steve Cordell seemed most proud that his department was able to lower its insurance service rating during its most recent inspection in 2017 and that his department was able to reach more than 15,000 people through its public education programs.

In 2017, the Henderson Police Department was able to lower Part I crimes in Henderson, which include violent and property crimes, below 1,000 instances. That is the first time that has happened since records began in 1985, according to Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

"We need to take advantage of it while it's low. While we are seeing these numbers I think we can sell our city better when they're lower," Barrow said.

As for budgetary wants and needs in the upcoming fiscal year, both departments had requests.

Cordell said his department is in need of new hydraulic tools to replace its 30-year-old tools. Cordell said the current tools, which are used to extract people from major vehicle accidents, were built during a time when vehicles were constructed differently.

"We use the analogy ... of trying to take a pair of dull scissors and cut a piece of paper..." Cordell said. "Because of the way cars are designed now with overlay metal the metal is a lot softer and it tears."

The new tools cost about $30,000.

Cordell also presented a plan to hire 12 new firefighters over the next four years to staff a third fire engine company.

As for Chief Barrow, he requested that the city look into modeling a program after a new state program to recruit high school seniors to work with the city for a set number of years in exchange for a city-paid two-year degree.

Barrow said the program could be used to recruit not just for his department but for other city departments as well.

Based on the state program, Barrow said that it would be a one-time cost of about $6,500 for each student, which would cover tuition and books costs. It was suggested that the price could be lowered through a partnership with Vance-Granville Community College.

One of the largest budget requests came from both departments. Cordell and Barrow said that by 2019 the radios used by their departments would become obsolete.

"They will be out of date in August of 2018," Cordell said. "They will not make anymore parts for the radios that the police and fire departments carry. In 2019 those parts may or may not be available."

No exact money figure was given, but both Cordell and Barrow said it would be a major expense, but one that was very necessary.

As a side note, Barrow addressed an incident from last week in which one of his officers was injured in a shooting while serving a search warrant.

"Those guys over there are heroes on a daily basis, but what they did that night was amazing," Barrow said. "They didn't retreat, they stood their ground, they took fire and I'm proud of them and y'all should be too."

Barrow said he was proud of and thankful to the City Council, other citizens and other departments in the area for their support of his department during that time.

"This city stood strong that night. I wanted to let y'all know that."

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