Derma Police Chief Stan Evans commended his officers for the work they are doing in Derma, and said the part time option they are using now is best for the town.
Evans came in response to some comments from last month’s meeting that they were rarely seen and also the fight on Church Hill Friday night.
Derma part time officers Juston Robertson, Corey Alexander and Josh Hughes were in attendance with Evans.
Evans told aldermen that if they wanted to pursue full time help he would be supportive, but warned them how difficult it would be to find help.
“You would have to pay someone around $40,000, and if it’s one person you will burn them out.”
Stan Evans
Gabbert said, “I’ve seen this town with a little money in the bank and I’ve seen a (full time) police department break it. It will not work in this small town. We are recouping a little of that money since Stan’s been here. But not enough to hire a full time policeman.”
Evans told the board that in the 4-5 years he has been chief, the town has “probably collected $250,000 in fines.”
“When you had a full time chief, it never came that close,” he said. “We also have $11,000 in drug seized funds, and have written 1,500 tickets and affidavits.”
Evans seemed to be preaching to the choir as Mayor Dock Gabbert and several aldermen praised him and his officers for the work they do.
Evans said it’s incredibly hard to find anyone who wants to work even part time in Derma and the problem is Church Hill.
“These guys have to get up and come out. We are the first ones there. You aren’t going to get anybody else that wants to come over here and work cause what they have to deal with,” Evans said. “You sure can’t get no black officer. They catch more hell than anybody.”
He also expressed frustration after the Friday night incident.
“They (the officers) put their butts on the line, and nobody will tell them nothing on the Hill,” he said.
“It could have been really bad, these guys were going into a fire zone. Innocent people could have been killed.”
Evans also said at times aldermen and citizens seem to focus on running stop signs and loud music.
“We are looking at major crime. If you don’t, it will get out of hand, and it will get out of hand quickly,” he said.
“We only have two streets we have to deal with, Underwood and Parkview, and we have to put in a plan to use our guys the best we can.”
Gabbert said, “It’s a serious problem and I know it and I understand it and we aren’t the only one that’s got it. But we have something others don’t, we have Stan Evans. If Stan wasn’t here, I don’t believe these three officers would be here. We are fortunate to have what we’ve got in my opinion.”
In other matters, the board approved:
•The bid of Renasant Bank, the only bid received, for the town depository. The town’s accounts are now at Renasant.
•Delinquent taxes to be sold Monday, Aug. 29 at 8:30 a.m.
•Hearing for tax millage rate and budget hearing Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.
•Tax release for Kenneth Lee for 2011-2015 taxes
•Court training for Deneen James in Jackson Sept. 14-16.
•James to attend a Small Town Conference in Natchez in October
•Purchasing property tax collection software from BBI for $3,324.98
•Lease purchase $19,981.67 software upgrade from BBI on a lease purchase plan for 565.19 a month for 36 months
Clerk James said the last software update was in 2002 for $22,759. She said the software the town is currently using is being phased out.
Clerk James reported bad debts to the board– Achia Cooperwood and Tommy Lee Crockett.
Town hall will be closed Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day. The next board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 6.