Chief Evangelous: ‘We need 26 more officers’

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A study shows, and authorities agree, Wilmington need more police. Results from patrol staffing studies show WPD need more than two dozen officers in addition to the eight more they will have by July of 2015.

At the Wilmington City Council’s retreat at the Wilmington International Airport Monday morning, Chief Ralph Evangelous presented the case for these additional officers who he says will help the growing city. Studies from the University of Michigan and the Department of Justice show Wilmington needs 26 more officers. This is in addition to the eight more they’ll have by July. Four of those eight positions will require no extra funding because of open positions, and the City has verbally committed to funding the other four, Evangelous said.

“Ya get what ya pay for and I think the majority of the public wants good police protection and good investigative follow-up. These studies we used to look at the staffing levels are best practices. They’re used around the country. We didn’t just pull these out of the sky,” Chief Evangelous said.

The biggest area that needs additional patrols, Evangelous said, is District 5. This is where the Walmart Supercenter is located off of New Centre Drive. He says this area is the worst in the city as far as service calls. These calls include car accidents and criminal activity.