WADESBORO — As the ongoing disagreement regarding separation of duties between Wadesboro’s Chief of Police Brandon Chewning and newly hired Charlotte resident Wiley Ross Jr. as Wadesboro’s new town manager deepens, Sheriff Scott Howell wishes to allay fears and concerns expressed by Wadesboro and county residents regarding their safety.
Currently, citizens are seeing Anson County Deputies routinely responding to calls within the town limits of Wadesboro. This is disturbing as normally sheriffs’ are elected law enforcement officers who are primarily responsible for enforcing federal, state, and local laws within their jurisdiction. Sheriffs’ have the primary responsibility of serving warrants, delivering legal documents, such as subpoenas, summonses, and lawsuits.
In hope of placating the public, Sheriff Howell wants citizens of Anson County and Wadesboro to know that he is merely supplying deputies to help Chief Chewing and the Wadesboro Police Officers handle calls temporarily in the city limits.
“It only makes sense to help our town and its officers, with deputies to make sure the shifts have adequate personnel to create a safe working environment and to see that the citizens are safe,” Howell said.
Sheriff Howell said Chief Chewing and he have discussed in length how the sheriff’s office can help the Wadesboro Police Department.
“Boots on the ground is what they need. The sheriff’s deputies you see patrolling and taking calls inside the Wadesboro Town Limits are volunteering to work on their days off,” Howell said.
Following a meeting Sheriff Howell held with his staff, deputies lined up and signed their agreement to work on their days off to assist the citizens and the police department of Wadesboro in any way they can.
“Law Enforcement is truly a brotherhood and I’m proud of my men and women for stepping up to help the Town of Wadesboro,” Howell said.
The stated goal of the Anson County Sheriff’s Office is to continue assisting the men and women of the Wadesboro Police Department until staffing issues are resolved within the department and the department can resume its normal duties.
“When Chief Chewing advises he is at a level that he feels is appropriate for coverage within the town limits of Wadesboro then the sheriff’s office will no longer be providing these services,” Howell said.
No official agreement is needed for the sheriff’s office to enforce laws within town limits, but city officers do to enforce laws within the county. Should the department continue to struggle with staffing needs, the County of Anson and the Town of Wadesboro will need to work out details for a financial agreement.
For now, deputies will continue to respond in their regular sheriff’s vehicles and in sheriff’s uniforms.
“The important thing is that the job gets done, not the color of the uniform or the agency of the men and women doing it,” Howell said.
Sheriff Howell feels by working together as a community, the men and women of the sheriff’s office will continue to provide the highest possible level of service to all residents and visitors of the county and its towns.
“We will continue to seek your ideas about how we can better serve you. We will continue to be accountable, transparent, and respectful as we adapt our resources to meet the evolving needs of the Town of Wadesboro. This is a commitment by the men and women of the Anson County Sheriff’s Office to continually strive to ensure the safety of our schools, neighborhoods and businesses throughout the county and towns,” Howell said.
Wadesboro Town Manager Wiley Ross Jr. has not returned calls to the Anson Record and has made no public statement to the media regarding criticisms leveled against him, which include micromanaging the Wadesboro Police Department. Wadesboro Town Council will be holding their next meeting Monday, October 7. Many residents have expressed a desire to speak out against Ross again at Monday’s meeting and have started an online petition for Ross’ removal at www.change.org. Updates to this story will be made available as they develop.
