Andrews – The Board of Aldermen reached an agreement allowing Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer to run the Andrews Police Department without interference from town officials.
The agreement gives Palmer the legal authority to supervise Andrews officers, create department policies and procedures, and develop a mentorship program without appointing him as the town’s administrative police chief.
“The board [of aldermen] won’t have a say in the supervision of the officers; that will be done through the sheriff’s office,” Palmer said. “Our goal is not to take over nor abolish the Andrews Police Department. The goal is to rebuild it from the ground up and have a police department that the Town of Andrews is proud of.”
Andrews lawmakers decided to let Palmer run the police department after former chief Michael Hobgood resigned on July 6. Hobgood cited micromanagement by some elected officials as the main reason for leaving after only serving the town for a little more than a year. Former officers who resigned also cited a culture of favoritism and micromanagement by elected officials as primary causes of instability within the police department.
“We need to get out of this mindset where all we have to do is hire a chief and more officers and everything will be fine,” Palmer said. “We have to address the issues from the board [of aldermen] all the way down. With this plan, we’re looking at a complete restoration and overhaul of the police department, and working with the town to accomplish that.”
Palmer said he proposed this plan as an alternative to being appointed administrative chief because it allows him to remain independent of any governing body.
“The good thing about this plan is that I’m in a unique position where I can speak freely and do what needs to be done [to accomplish the goal and make progress],” he said, adding that working with Andrews will not interfere with his duties to the county. “I’m an elected official, and the Supreme Court has made it clear that I am the chief law enforcement officer of the county. I can dedicate my resources wherever I want to.”
In addition to overhauling the policies and procedures and training officers, Palmer plans to dramatically increase the law enforcement presence in Andrews.
“In the months to come, you’ll see an increase in presence from the sheriff’s office from all divisions,” he said, adding that the plan is to show lawbreakers that police are watching them.
“We’re not going to violate people’s rights, and we’re not going to harass people or none of that; we’re going to do it legally. You can get in front of people, and talk to backpackers and sidewalk bicyclists without violating their rights and harassing them. They need to see a law enforcement presence and know that wherever they go someone is going to be there.”
Palmer said he has spoken with town officials about unrealistic expectations, such as requiring police to patrol an entire shift without stopping to surveil or produce reports. If by some chance Andrews does not hire a new police chief before the end of Palmer’s term as sheriff, town officials and the new sheriff would have to negotiate a new arrangement to run the department.
“I’ve addressed the micromanagement and was rather blunt about things,” he said. “I’m excited about the difference we can make in Andrews. We’re going to rebuild the police department with a new foundation, so when a new police chief is hired, he or she is not overwhelmed with trying to fix all these issues.”