DILLON COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — The Town of Latta is moving forward with a payment plan to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA) after an emergency council meeting Tuesday night.
Council members unanimously approved a plan to pay $3,500 a month over the next 11 months to settle a nearly $40,000 fine. The first check is expected to be sent out Wednesday morning.
Currently, Latta has no active police officers. The SCCJA suspended the certifications of four officers and the police chief after the town failed to pay the fine, which was issued back in May.
Mayor Teresa Mason told ABC 15 that ahead of the emergency meeting, town leaders had been working diligently with legal counsel to fix the situation.
“The town was fined $39,900,” Mason said. “It should’ve been paid within 30 days unfortunately it has not been.”
According to the academy, uncertified officers in Latta were working without supervision from fully certified officers—a violation of state law. When the town missed the 30-day deadline to pay the fine, the SCCJA suspended the certifications and halted the certification process for uncertified officers.
In the meantime, the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office is helping patrol the town.
“Moving forward, I would be glad to help the town of Latta and the police department and the citizens any way I can,” James Hamilton, Dillon county sheriff said. “We will put extra resources over toward that area of the county and any assistance that the sheriff’s office can provide, we will be more than glad to help. We will be answering all calls for service until this situation is rectified.”
Residents say they’re frustrated and concerned about the lack of police coverage.
“I just think it’s scary,” said Cindy Owens, who works in Latta. “We don’t have a police force, everybody knows now that we’re not covered, anything could happen, we’ve got children, we work in businesses here, and as far as the bill not being paid, I just think that’s slack. They knew what had to be done. You knew what consequences we were going to face but yet we’re here, the town is left paying the price basically.”
Mayor Mason said she’s hopeful the payment plan will lead to a quick reinstatement of Latta’s police department.
“I presently have been speaking with the attorney,” Mason said. “He has worked out a payment plan with them and if council approves of the payment plan and we can go forward and get a check there tomorrow and the police will be reinstated by tomorrow afternoon.”
Once the civil penalty is paid in full, the officers will be issued their law enforcement certifications and will be able to enforce laws.
ABC 15 will continue to provide updates as this situation develops and once the Criminal Justice Academy responds to the payment.
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