Hawkins residents raise concerns after last police officer fired

HAWKINS — The Hawkins City Council voted to remove their last city police officer on Monday night but residents said they don’t agree with the council’s decision and are nervous to be left without coverage. According to our news partner KETK, many people have openly opposed the decision, including resident and former Hawkins city councilwoman Eleta Taylor.

“I am extremely disappointed in this council,” Taylor said. “That decision just opened us up so vulnerably because we’re not going to have no protection.”

She said several people have expressed their concern to her. After the council meeting ended Monday night, several people told KETK News that they are both scared and disappointed.

“Gut-wrenching fear for what is going to happen,” community member Amy Pack said.

Pack said she wants to know how this will affect their town’s safety.

“You can’t have any kind of safe community without a law enforcement or a body of law,” Pack said.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office was unavailable for comment on Tuesday on how this might affect their department or patrols, but Mayor Debbie Rushing told KETK News over the phone that this shouldn’t have a big impact on them and should be business as usual.

Rushing said this shouldn’t affect the sheriff’s office because Hawkins has never had a full-time police department. She also added that county’s coverage will have no additional cost for the city of Hawkins.

Although people living in the area are concerned, many said they are thankful for the county’s coverage from the sheriff’s office.

“I appreciate everything that the Wood County sheriff’s department, the constables have done to help with us since we only had one officer,” Taylor said.