alleghany

I would like to reply about the current situation at the Sparta PD. It's very disturbing when you have the turn over that they have. People leave and when they finally hire someone else they stay long enough to get trained and are gone as well. To complicate things the use of manpower is questionable when you tie your full time officers up to " babysit" those committed to the hospital. Use your part time officers for this.
In closing, I would totally disagree with previous remarks made about Officer Choate. This individual is always very, very professional and courteous every time I speak with him. After all, he started checking businesses in town after hours soon after he was hired. Something that wasn't done prior to him. He has also been at our store when off duty and caught people shoplifting while off duty. I'm very glad he is here in our small town. Perhaps the Chief should promote from within instead of hiring from the "Midge" and his outcasts.

The real woman chaser was the phedofile frank sanders

I as do many people on this site have friends that work in the police department and the sheriffs office. Both agencies have there own sets of responsibilities. The one common factor is neither agency gets paid nearly enough for the jobs they have to preform. These guys have to wear a gun and body armor to go to work every day. Instead of bashing either department how about thanking these guys next time you see them. Because they put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect the citizens of this great county. Even the citizens that criticize.

Dear temp,
I would almost bet you never called either one of those young men those names to their faces. Am I correct? If you can do the job better ...I encourage you ... I, too have worked with these officers at the ED when they had to stand around and monitor a patient while we try to secure the patient a bed in a mental health facility, odd how I never heard those names being called. As a matter of fact maybe you should have been doing your job so the officers would not have to baby sit. Also, how many times have you seen a deputy baby sitting a person while we try to secure a mental health bed. RARELY! It is also a well known fact these officers don’t have the luxury of having a partner to answer calls, unlike your local sheriffs office.

I have personally had the displeasure of having to tolerate the police department on many occasions while working in the emergency room at alleghany memorial hospital. The police department has two officers that can definitely lower the morale of even the sanest of individuals. They are known at the ER by their nicknames which fits them down to the letter. Whining Tyler and Cry Baby Rash

I personally think that the city of Sparta should shut down the police department and let the sheriffs office handle it. The sheriffs office appears to be a pro active department and run very efficiently. Any who reads the alleghany news can see that. The police department appears to have no leadership or officers motivated to work. I have lived in the city limits of Sparta since 1977 and this police department now is the least motivated I have ever seen. The city limits are an open market for any kind of illegal drugs you want

I myself am unsure why or how he even qualifies for that job, just judging on morals.

Well well well..... I am very happy someone besides this old cooter is seeing just what the chief of the police department is doing . I have been told the very same things and i can speak first ya d to the chief not returning business phone calls. Wake up mr town manager and manage the department. For a town this size there is no excuse that you or anyone else can offer for the mess the chief has the department in. He needs to be able to lead by example.

I heard at the post office today that Our local town police have yet Another Vacancy? I am not counting or anything but the turn over at the police department is getting worse and worse. Could it be a leadership problem ? Or a lack of leadership. I believe all citizens over the age of 50 are quite familiar w Chief Lanes reputation for chasing women and all. I spoke with an older gentleman who said he had placed a call to the chief about an issue and the call is yet to be returned some 2 months later. Could it be he is too busy chasing off police officers ? Or could it be the ones leaving are just fed up and tired of the bad name the Sparta PD has made for itself under the current leadership???