By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
Tribune Managing Editor
PIEDMONT – With the resignation of one of Piedmont's two part-time officers, the mayor and council are considering talking with Keyser City officials about the possibility of an agreement which would allow the Keyser Police Department to provide coverage for the neighboring town.
Piedmont Police Chief Chris Paitsel, who also serves as an officer in Keyser, told the Piedmont mayor and council Wednesday that Keith Anderson has resigned from his part-time position.
That leaves Paitsel and Eric Veach, the other part-time officer, to cover the town and both, Paitsel said, “are feeling the strain.”
“I don't think the town is getting what they should,” he said. “We can't give you the 24-hour coverage you want; it just can't be done.
“We're just too stretched,” he said.
Paitsel said he and the town officials had previously informally talked about an agreement between Piedmont and Keyser in which Keyser would provide police coverage for both towns.
The arrangement would be similar to the agreement currently in place between Ridgeley and Carpendale, where the Ridgeley Police Department provides coverage for its neighbor.
“Keyser has indicated they're interested,” he said.
Paitsel said he feels the cost of paying the Keyser PD for coverage would not amount to any more than the Town of Piedmont currently pays in benefits, utilities and other costs for the small police department.
In addition, he said there are some big-ticket costs looming on the horizon for the Piedmont Police Department.
“Pretty soon you're going to have to look at a $5,000 program that's going to have to be bought, ... and you're looking at a whole new radio system by 2013,” he said.
“You may be able to justify the cost” (of paying Keyser for coverage), he said.
Councilman Mickey Racco said that Sheriff Craig Fraley, when he was campaigning, promised to provide more deputy coverage in Piedmont, and he felt the town should talk with him soon about that possibility.
The officials agreed to pursue both ideas.
“We have to explore more than one option,” Racco said, to which Councilman Bob Fike added, “We need to really discuss it and not put it on the back burner.”
The officials agreed to arrange a meeting with the City of Keyser in the near future.
