The Public Safety Committee on Sept. 22 voted to forward Ordinance 25-33 to full City Council recommending that Mayor Farrell enter an agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service to reestablish Huntington Police Department officers as partners on the United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Task Force.

The measure would allow Huntington officers to be sworn in as special deputy U.S. marshals to participate on the multi-agency task force, giving them federal jurisdiction in fugitive-apprehension cases. Phil Watkins, Huntington police chief, told the committee the partnership is a “force multiplier,” providing access to federal intelligence and the ability to pursue fugitives across state lines.

“The task force is a highly successful multi agency effort to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods by apprehending dangerous fugitives,” Watkins said. “This MOU allows Huntington police officers to be sworn in as special deputy U.S. marshals to assist them in their task force.”

Watkins said the program carries no direct cost to the city because officers serve part time on the task force and overtime is reimbursed by the U.S. Marshals Service. He added that participating officers would receive additional federally funded training.

Watkins also gave statewide U.S. Marshals Service figures for fiscal 2025, saying the service cleared or arrested 1,215 fugitives in West Virginia; of those, he said, 550 were state or local fugitives and 665 were federal fugitives. Watkins referenced an additional figure of “131” for a category that was not fully audible in the committee record.

A council member asked whether the city or county has a specific count of open violent-crime arrest warrants to justify joining the task force. Watkins said he did not have that number at the meeting and agreed to provide the count when the ordinance goes to full council.

After the discussion the committee chair entertained a motion to forward the ordinance. Phil Watkins moved to send Ordinance 25-33 to full council with a favorable recommendation; a council member seconded. The committee approved the referral by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the committee minutes.

Next steps: full City Council will consider Ordinance 25-33. Committee members asked staff to provide the number of current open violent-crime arrest warrants in Cabell County or Huntington for the council packet.