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Residents press Wadesboro council for action as shootings and staffing shortfalls persist
Summary
At a Wadesboro Town Council meeting, multiple residents urged immediate action after recent shootings and break-ins; police leaders said the department is rebuilding (nine officers now; three graduates next week) and council discussed increased patrols and neighborhood engagement.
At the town council meeting, a string of residents urged Wadesboro leaders to act after a series of shootings, break-ins and car thefts in several neighborhoods, including Orchard Street and Arburn/Marshall Street. “It’s time to put our foot down to get serious,” a resident told the council, describing repeated violence and pleading for a concrete plan.
The comments came during the public-comment period, where speakers also recommended neighborhood canvasses by council members and county commissioners and asked for greater coordination with law enforcement. An outside advocate warned the council that the town manager, Mr. W. Ross, had been targeted and said her group plans to send demand letters to individuals they identify as responsible.
Police leadership updated the council on staffing and response capability. The police chief reported the department currently has nine sworn officers, that three recruits are due to graduate from the academy next week, and that additional applicants are under consideration. “We’re rebuilding the department,” the chief said, noting the town aims to hire officers with ties to the community.
Council members and staff discussed short-term safety steps for the holiday season, including directing more patrols to convenience stores and targeted areas, distributing information about the youth curfew, and exploring funding for technology upgrades to dispatch (a separate agenda item). Multiple speakers emphasized that some crime is committed by non-residents passing through town and urged both enforcement and longer-term economic and social interventions to address underlying causes.
Council did not adopt a new public-safety ordinance at the meeting; members requested that staff return with specific plans and costs for stepped-up patrols and community engagement efforts. The meeting record shows extensive public concern about immediate safety and longer-term economic drivers of crime, and officials said hiring and technology improvements are being prioritized.
