Camden makes meeting security, other safety changes

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CAMDEN — During a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21, Camden Village Council voted to approve two policy changes to related to the safety of village employees.

The first change was a request from Chief of Police Matt Spurlock. He is seeking additional security detail for Camden Council meetings and Camden Mayor’s Court.

Currently, during council meetings, whatever police personnel is on duty during the meeting will attend and keep watch. However, these officers are often called away on duty. Spurlock proposed council hire an officer specifically for council meetings and Mayor’s Court detail.

This officer will be paid $75 every other week. The officer assigned to detail will not collect an hourly rate, only the detail pay.

“This will ensure an officer is in the building, instead of how it is now,” Spurlock wrote. “The police department also already owns a hand held metal detector. The officer on the detail would be stationed at the front door and scan every person coming to the court or meeting.”

Council also approved a motion to allow certified staff to conceal-carry while on the clock. The policy was provided by the village’s attorney and would cover any employee of the village.

“Anymore, you don’t know what is going to happen. That is why we are drafting this policy with our insurance company and attorneys. The burden falls on them, not you or us as tax payers. If there is a problem, it is their problem,” Councilman Kelly Doran said.

He added, “There has been some irate people [in the town hall] and some of them had no business here. Now, with Mayor’s Court, [Melton] takes a lot and people come out of town. She has money in there and it is not a good situation anymore.”

Camden Village Council meets every first and third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall.

By Kelsey Kimbler

[email protected]

Reach Kelsey Kimbler at 937-683-4061 or on Twitter @KKimbler_RH

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