• Residents in Silverhill address concerns with BCSO, town officials

SILVERHILL, Alabama — Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack Jr. and other officials with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, along with town officials met with residents in Silverhill on Thursday, Feb. 4 to address concerns from town residents.

About 30 residents packed Café Acadiana for the informal “Coffee with the Sheriff,”  a full 90-minute meeting to go over general information and address specific concerns about the BCSO assisting with emergencies and the day-to-day operations of the police department following the termination of Chief Kim Wasdin on Jan. 14.

“Our deputies have been patrolling in Silverhill for about three weeks now and it’s given us an opportunity to address specific concerns in the town,” Mack said. “We’ve always had a presence here and will continue to have a presence here to help out in any way we can once our contract has been fulfilled and we appreciate the cooperation of all the citizens.”

Mack started by introducing Lt. John Aldrich, who will provide administrative support, and Deputy Bob Correa, who will conduct day-to-day operations in the town. Additional deputies will be dispatched in town as needed to support Silverhill patrol officer Al Malone.

“He will be supplemented by the full force of the Sheriff’s Department,” Mack said, adding that the BCSO currently has more than 100 officers and deputies patrolling Baldwin County.

Mack also introduced Assistant Chief Deputy Maj. Anthony Lowery, head of the BCSO investigations command, along with retired chief deputy Collins Wynn and recognized other dignitaries present.

Mack then explained the procedures by which the Sheriff’s Department can act to assist the town.

Legislation was passed in 2007, which enabled the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department to assist in the enforcement of municipal ordinances, which is different from state statutes, Mack said.

“We call the Magnolia Springs law, because it was created to assist the newly incorporated town of Magnolia Springs which did not have the means to fund its own police force,” Mack said. “We have since used the law to contract with towns like Summerdale and now Silverhill to assist when there is a vacancy at the chief’s position.”

Correa previously served as the day-to-day duty officer in Magnolia Springs before being reassigned to Silverhill.

A tri-party agreement between the town, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department and the Baldwin County Commission went into effect Feb. 1 and will be in place until April 30. Under the terms of the agreement, the town will reimburse the Sheriff’s Department for Correa’s fulltime salary, which is approximately $5,800 per month for the duration of the agreement.

Mack said if residents in town have an emergency situation, “that means if there is an emergency, if there’s been a death or something is happening right now that needs immediate attention,” then residents should call 9-1-1.

For non-emergencies, residents can call the main Sheriff’s Department number at 251-937-0202 or the central dispatch at 251-947-4010.

The town is currently advertising for a new police chief and will be looking to fill another full-time patrol officer position in the coming weeks.

The town has also disbanded its reserve program which had employed up to six part-time officers. Mayor Tim Wilson stated Thursday that all officers had turned in their uniforms by Tuesday, Feb. 2, adding that the move will likely be a temporary one.

“Once the new police chief is put in place he or she will decide whether or not to reinstate the program,” Wilson said.

Mack addressed residents’ concerns, such as the efforts to provide markings on the town’s patrol cars and adding “Silverhill Patrol Officer” to Correa’s vehicle for an added police presence.

Mack also addressed specific concerns such as a report of a stabbing in Silverhill and reports of car break-ins.

About the stabbing, Mack said, “I just want to assure residents that there is not someone walking down the street stabbing people. We believe that this is not an isolated incident with this person and we are looking into the validity of the report.”

Residents expressed their appreciation to the Sheriff’s Department for issuing a Facebook message cautioning residents to keep their homes and cars locked in light of the break-ins.

“As a general rule, criminals are lazy and if you simply lock your doors to your house or car, it doesn’t mean that you will never be broken into, but the likelihood will be much lower.”

Residents also expressed other concerns including garbage pickup, speeding and traffic concerns and barking dogs. Mack also went over the state’s law concerning a right carry a concealed weapon versus carrying a weapon openly, which is allowed in the state, but restricted in certain areas.

One resident also expressed concerns that Silverhill is disbanding its police department to which Wilson responded simply “We will continue to have a police department here in Silverhill.”

Mack said officials also reviewed reports that have been issued within the town over the last month, including civil complaints, animal complaints and two motor vehicle accidents.

“That is one thing we do not do is investigate motor vehicle accidents,” Mack said. “We will certainly respond and assist when necessary, but as far as an investigation goes, if Officer Malone is here, he will work the accident, otherwise we will call on the State Troopers (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Highway Patrol) to make the report.”