It was only two years ago that Shepherdstown Police Chief Cole was pushed out of office under Mayor Peter Wilson. Soon after that three police officers were either forced out or left voluntarily. At the time, the mayor promised a new beginning, with a better-run police force, better relations between the town and the police, and less crime.

Now look where we are. Chief Curtis Keller has left. Two other officers are following right behind him. That leaves two full-time police officers, plus some part-timers, to take care of Shepherdstown.

The ongoing game of musical constabulary chairs has left some residents wondering whether the town even needs a police force. Apparently we do. West Virginia law requires incorporated towns to provide police enforcement. This does not preclude buying in protection from other local forces, but historically the Sheriff’s department has been less than enthusiastic about coming into Shepherdstown’s city limits.

So if we are to have our own police force, how do we ensure a rosier future?

First, the town’s administrators must get better at managing the police force. Currently, few town councilors have the time or skills to manage the force—especially considering that each council member is around for only two years. And recently 50 percent of these have left office prematurely. We like Mayor Dom’s idea of longer, staggered terms for town councilors. Having four-year term with half the council elected every two years would mean there would always be experienced  members on the council.

Second, we need to do a better job at recruitment. Over the past few years, many of Shepherdstown’s police officers have not been best suited to the high-octane, intellectual, liberal, and generally demanding characters that make up Shepherdstown. In Ranson, when a policeman tells you to move, you move. In Shepherdstown, a resident might tell you to contact their lawyer. We need policemen and women who fit the personality of the town. That does not mean the police should not enforce the law. It means they have the wherewithal to understand and respond to the local situation. That’s really what policing is all about. The public works department appears to run very smoothly; why can’t the police department as well?

Third, we need to downsize the force. If we did this, we would save hundreds of thousands of dollars. We can have one or two clerks available for parking infractions and minor issues. In addition, we could have one or two full-time police officer available for criminal matters. We can work more closely with Shepherd University to deal with the late night problems at the bars downtown.

Finally, we need to get the police out of their cars. The whole town is five blocks long. We should eliminate the driving mindset from police patrolling and encourage officers to get back on foot, where they could get to know the store owners, stroll through the farmers market, and hang out by the Wall with the teenagers. Let’s get the beat cops back on the streets.

So as we wish interim Chief Bellomy the best of luck in his new, challenging post, it might be time for town residents and the council to look beyond the conventional approach to policing the town. Like all public institutions, a town’s police department reflect that distinct need and character of the place. With this in mind, perhaps it’s time to re-imagine the makeup of the town’s law enforcement effort.