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Stanley officials say shrinking police applicant pool, retirements and resignations are straining response capacity
Summary
At a Sept. 30 special work session, Stanley Public Safety Director Derek Summey and other department leaders told the Town Council that declining applications, rising retirements and local pay competition have left the department short‑staffed; they requested coverage help from the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and proposed pay adjustments to improve retention.
Public Safety Director Derek Summey told the Stanley Town Council on Sept. 30 that the Stanley Police Department is facing a shrinking applicant pool, faster retirements and a rising resignation rate that together have created persistent manpower shortages.
The presentation — given during a Town Hall informational work session — outlined how those staffing shortfalls have translated into operational strain: slower response times, reduced patrol visibility in neighborhoods and schools, fewer traffic‑enforcement resources and higher risks of officer burnout, officials said. The department requested coverage assistance from the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office to help maintain public safety while staffing is addressed.
Assistant Police Chief Scott Wright described recruitment and retention measures the department has used, including sign‑on bonuses, three‑year employment contracts, investments in BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) candidates, equipment modernization and targeted pay increases. Wright said seven BLET candidates were hired recently and that six of those hires are no longer with the department, a turnover rate he identified as a significant concern for the agency’s long‑term staffing stability.
Captain TJ Sanders told the council that demand for police services has grown as the town’s population, traffic and commercial activity have increased. He said the department often operates with a single officer per shift responsible for roughly 4,200 residents; officers work 12‑hour shifts and are the primary responders for both patrol and roadway traffic incidents, which limits routine enforcement and patrol coverage during concurrent calls.
Summey and Town Manager Heath Jenkins outlined steps the town could take to address retention. Summey said offering a higher starting salary and establishing a broader salary range for more experienced officers would make Stanley more competitive. Manager Jenkins proposed increasing longevity pay and front‑loading incentives to encourage employees to remain with the town longer.
The meeting was an informational work session only; no formal motions or votes were taken. Minutes were submitted at the close of the session.
Why this matters: Council members heard officials describe operational consequences that could affect everyday service levels — slower response times, fewer visible patrols and greater workload on remaining officers — and heard concrete personnel and compensation proposals that the council could consider in future budget or policy discussions.
