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Onley council approves sending police recruit to HRCJTA; mayor breaks tie
Summary
After a split council vote on April 22, 2026, Mayor Henry E. Finney cast the tie-breaking vote to send a recruit to the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy (HRCJTA); Chief E.J. Long presented costs of $14,630 and council agreed to adjust the proposed 2026–27 budget and hold a closed session to discuss the candidate.
The Onley Town Council voted on April 22, 2026, to send a police recruit to the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy (HRCJTA), approving training and onboarding costs reported at $14,630.
Chief E.J. Long told council he was impressed with the candidate interviewed and presented a cost breakdown for academy attendance and related expenses totaling $14,630. "He was impressed with her," the minutes record of Chief Long's appraisal of the interview. Council members were divided on the expense: Councilman Brian Corbin and Councilmen Rodney Lang and Woody Zember opposed sending a recruit given past challenges and a current budget shortfall; Councilmen Daniel Bloxom, Jason Campbell and Vice-Mayor Bill Ferguson supported funding the recruit. The roll-call produced a 3–3 tie among council members; Mayor Henry E. Finney cast the tie-breaking vote in favor, making the tally four in favor and three opposed.
Council directed that the proposed 2026–27 budget be adjusted to accommodate academy costs if the recruit attends and scheduled a closed session at the next meeting to discuss the candidate's personnel matters. Council members discussed the option of delaying hiring a fifth officer as an offset, but no formal amendment to the staffing line was recorded.
The outcome: the recruit will attend the HRCJTA; staff must update the draft budget to reflect the expense and hold a closed session to consider candidate specifics at the next meeting.
