WADESBORO, N.C. — The town of Wadesboro is considering raising pay for police, after a recent spike in police resignations.
Town leaders considered two proposals to do so at a meeting Monday night.
Community members were also able to voice their concerns, many of which centered around Town Manager Wiley Ross' alleged use of a police car amid law enforcement staffing shortages.
Former officers and town employees have told WCNC Charlotte Ross is misusing his power and pushing them out.
"They've all left as in my opinion, because of his mismanagement," said Wadesboro resident Stephen Greene.
At Monday's meeting, Ross spoke in support of filling the open positions on the force.
"I definitely want to have a police force that's viable that's out serving the community," Ross said. "But with that, it takes funding, right? So we have some hard decisions to make in reference to funding our police force."
While many residents spoke in favor of the push to increase salaries, Greene doesn't think it's enough.
"They could leave here today and go to another department to make way much more money somewhere else," said Greene.
Despite this, he still thinks there is hope for unity.
"I think we're a torn town, but I think unity is achievable," Greene said. "I would wholeheartedly love to see it."
Ross confirmed to WCNC Charlotte at the meeting that there are two proposals on the table, both of which are different pay increases for the police department staff. However, he said the official numbers will have to come through an official records request from the town. WCNC Charlotte is waiting for a response.
In early September, WCNC Charlotte was shown a photo of Ross getting into a Wadesboro squad car. The car was parked outside an AT&T store in the small Anson County town. A person who works for the town, who asked to stay anonymous out of fear of retaliation by town officials, says the squad car is fully functional. Another photo claims to show Ross driving the car to a Food Lion grocery store.
"As town manager, he has a right to drive town property," Snuggs said, acknowledging he's seen the photo multiple times.
Wadesboro Mayor Pro Tem Garrett Snuggs said misinformation is spreading after residents raised concerns about Ross' use of the vehicle. Snuggs claims the town board was aware of Ross using the vehicle.
"To say that Mr. Ross is not capable of driving a vehicle like that, it's laughable," Snuggs said. "Mr. Ross was in law enforcement for 30 years."
Ross sent a statement to WCNC Charlotte saying he was performing town business. Snuggs said Ross was going to AT&T to get a cellphone for a new town employee.
Steve Harrell, the former interim town manager, also sent a statement backing up Ross and Snuggs.
There is a North Carolina statute that says a person cannot impersonate law enforcement, but it's unclear if driving a police car falls under that law. Meanwhile, several people say Ross hasn't allowed the Wadesboro Police Department to hire officers, leaving the current staff overworked. Three officers have quit in the last week, leaving residents concerned about their safety.
"It's very concerning," one person said. "Wadesboro has a very high crime rate. Without those officers patrolling, it's not good."
Snuggs understands those concerns but says from a money point, the town needs to budget effectively.
"Definitely in the red," he said. "We are not able to do public service."
Ross added in his statement to WCNC Charlotte that Wadesboro is "actively working" to fill any vacancies with the police department. There have also been concerns about how Ross treats town employees and departments.
"The morale is extremely low for all the employees, including the police department," a former officer said.
Snuggs says he believes the disconnect comes from one thing.
"I'm a Martin Luther King person," he said. "I judge people on the content of their character, not the color of their skin, their ethnicity. The only time race has ever been brought up was with the town manager, he told the department heads they needed to be mindful of the demographics they are serving"
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.