Cumberland County SRO: Hope Mills Police Chief, City Manager Stunned By Sheriff Pulling Deputies From Schools

HOPE MILLS, N.C. (WTVD) — Hope Mills' police chief and city manager speak out after the Cumberland County sheriff decided to remove resource officers and crossing guards from the city's public schools, as well as every other city in the Cumberland County.

That means the city, its police department and Cumberland County Schools must determine if and how they will fill those roles.

Hope Mills Police Chief Stephen Dollinger and City Manager Chancer McLaughlin said the sheriff's decision came as a big surprise. Chief Dollinger also said Sheriff Ennis Wright was doing this because of the sheriff's staffing issues for his own department. Officials said understaffing not only created this problem, but also raises questions about how to now staff those positions with school resource officers and crossing guards.

“We have the same kind of issues as the sheriff, which is staffing, staffing issues. Because there are seven schools here in Hope Mills, so we would have to provide resource officers for those seven schools in addition to staff extra here in the building,” Dollinger said.

Dollinger said he received a letter last Tuesday from Wright announcing his decision to pull his deputies from schools, as did the Fayetteville Police Department.

Spring Lake is also removing SROs and crossing guards from CCS schools. McLaughlin said the change has a big impact, but he, the police department and the board of commissioners are focused on finding a path forward.

“I see it as a challenge that we can be one of the first municipalities to take the lead and come up with something that is conducive to the safety of our children and all of our citizens.”

Dollinger noted that it was ultimately up to McLaughlin, the city manager and the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners to decide whether to continue staffing SROs in public schools. Depending on what they decide, the chief said his ministry will follow suit.

You can learn more about the situation at the public board meeting at Hope Mills Town Hall at 6 p.m.