Trade The Badge For Yellow Flags, NC Sheriff Suits Up To Continue Nearly 20-Year Career As A High School Referee

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Proud of my Edgecombe County Sheriff Cleveland Clee Atkinson. This is real community service out of uniform and driving his personal vehicle. Sheriff Atkinson being on the field with teenagers from Edgecombe County and other counties should bring on respect for the game and for the refs.

EDGECOMBE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SEEKS TO REPLACE HIGH-MILEAGE VEHICLES

The Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office operates a vehicle fleet that includes about 90 vehicles, with 64 of them in almost daily service.

The fleet, which includes a mixture of automobiles, SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, is utilized in a variety of ways on paved, gravel, and dirt roads as well as off-road.

According to NCDOT Engineering Supervisor Wayne Wooten, there are 874 road miles in Edgecombe County, which includes all primary and secondary roads as well as most subdivisions in the county.

While police will see the occasional state police vehicle on a roadway in the county, the primary responsibility belongs to the sheriff’s office, and it is 24/7/365 in all types of weather.

The sheriff’s office uses that fleet to cover the county’s 507 square miles.

Chief Deputy Gene Harrell said 71 of the 90 vehicles have more than 100,000 miles, while another 31 have more than 150,000 miles.

He told the Telegram that, ideally, any vehicle with more than 100,000 miles would be a candidate for replacement.

“For a patrol vehicle, you need to start looking at replacing them between 75,000 and 100,000 miles,” he said.

At its Feb. 7 meeting, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners was provided with a report that detailed the vehicles by model, mileage, and fleet assignment.

When asked if he wanted to comment on the report, Sheriff Clee Atkinson said he did not, but as the annual budget cycle approaches, consideration of the purchase of new vehicles has to be a discussion point.

In 2018, commissioners decided it was prudent to borrow $600,000 to purchase new vehicles and negotiated a loan with Providence Bank.

Harrell said the agency got 16 Chargers, two Ford Explorers, and one Chevrolet Silverado pickup. He said that same year, the agency bought four surplus Chevrolet Tahoes for K-9 service.

“We have just about paid that loan off,” County Manager Eric Evans said. “Each year since (2018), we have carried the debt service on that loan and purchased a few additional vehicles.”

On top of that, the county allocates $250,000 per year for vehicles.

Harrell said an equipped-and-ready-to-run Dodge Charger costs between $30,000 and $35,000, but that the vehicle tends to have problems with its cooling system.

That becomes a problem because deputies are instructed to leave their vehicles running if they are out of the passenger compartment for a relatively short time. That’s to protect the computer equipment that’s always on and to eliminate the need to start up the vehicle over and over.

“If they’re eating or inside someplace or home, they kill the engine,” Harrell said.

Harrell, who will retire in December, said he prefers the Tahoes.

“They’ve got more room for the gear and they hold up a lot better than the Chargers,” he said. “But the SUVs cost $60,000 to $70,000 each.”

Harrell said the Dodge Charger becomes the vehicle of choice because “they’re the cheapest.”

“If it was up to me and I had the money, I’d buy all Tahoes,” he said. “They hold up better.”

And when a vehicle starts having issues, the maintenance costs add up.

“Since July 1, we’ve spent $77,582 on maintenance at the three garages we use,” Harrell said. “That’s maintenance only … oil, engines, and repairs.”

Harrell said tires — which are replaced every 25,000 to 30,000 miles — are purchased from a separate source.

Twenty-six vehicles have had suspension issues — at about $1,000 each — while radiator and water pump issues lead to regular overheating problems with the Chargers.

“We’d like to be able to replace a few more vehicles (than the 23 in 2018),” he said. “We had a representative from Enterprise (Fleet Leasing) make a presentation to the commissioners in 2018, but they didn’t want to lease.”

Evans said financing is a more cost-effective approach than leasing over the long term.

“We did an analysis comparing pay-as-we-go replacement of cars, financing, and leasing,” he said. “Of course, our preference would be to pay as we go, but we were not able to do a one-time purchase for as many vehicles as the sheriff needed.”

Harrell said he had been talking to a neighboring department that had recently opted to go with the Enterprise program and had gotten 20 vehicles for “a little over $120,000.”

“Those vehicles are ready to go … equipped,” he said. “They got Chargers, Durangos, and pickups. If we could get 20 vehicles for that, that means we could upgrade 80 vehicles in four years.”

Harrell also pointed out that the Enterprise lease includes unlimited mileage and all major maintenance costs.

“If we could just keep our marked vehicles on a solid rotation every four years, we’d be good,” he said. “If (commissioners) would lease instead of financing, we could come close to replacing our entire fleet for the same money.”

Pictured:

Some of the agency’s 20 spare vehicles shown in the parking lot.

Detective Sgt. L. Shaw, who handles crimes scene investigations, work arrange his loaded trunk so he can access needed items.

Rocky Mount Telegram

Edgecombe County Sheriff Office Act Quickly On Crime

The Edgecombe County Sheriff Office is always on top of crime and events. They are quick to get information out on their page about crime that they respond to.

Because the ECSO try to inform the public as soon as possible, they are able to get community input lots of time while trying to capture suspects.

The ECSO deserve more money because Sheriff Cleveland Clee Atkinson and his staff does a damn great job and are underpaid.

I am out and about sometimes early, sometimes late and I see the deputies out their jobs. I receive calls  and/or messages about crimes like last night not far from me asking me have I heard. Shortly after most times I get a media notification from the Edgecombe County Sheriff Office. Last night when I received a call shortly after I got the notification. Later got an update and then today got several updates including an Amber Alert.

I want to thank the Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson, Deputies and all of the Staff because they all play a role in whatever goes on within the office.

Hold on a change is coming!

Edgecombe County Sheriff Clee Atkinson Address County Commissioners During Budget Hearing

Kathy Williams

Please listen to Sheriff Atkinson’s remarks starting at 20:30. It sounds to me like he’s offering a solution to getting better pay for his staff and deputies so why isn’t Edgecombe County jumping on it? Makes one wonder if they even care about how little the county pays some of its employees! I’m proud of Sheriff Atkinson for standing up and speaking up!! Now if the citizens of the county would do the same! Run when seats are open and stop voting for the same old mess that has made us one of the highest taxed counties with nothing to show for it! Please share and let everyone know what’s really happening in Edgecombe County!
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YOUTUBE.COM

Edgecombe Commissioners Meeting 6/7/2021

Business Builders with Sheriff Clee Atkinson Full Version – YouTube

Awe some Presentation!

No she didn’t say you know Rocky Mount need a Chief! LOL!

Congrats Sheriff Cleveland Clee Atkinson Dick Knox Distinguished Service Award By The NCHSAA

Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office

On Tuesday, February 9, 2021, Sheriff C. Atkinson was presented with the Dick Knox Distinguished Service Award by the NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association). Even though the award was given to Sheriff Atkinson, he and NCHSAA recognized the awesome service of coaching (youth soccer, middle school football, high school football, wrestling), officiating(volleyball, basketball, baseball, football) & mentoring (Boy Scouts of America) ECSO deputies provide to youth in Edgecombe County.

Sheriff Atkinson strongly encourages his ECSO team to continue to stay engaged within our communities.

Y’all Know I Love My Sheriff Cleveland Clee Atkinson Edgecombe County But Let Him Make A Statement He Ain’t Goings To Enforce Governor’s COVID-19 Mandate

Try me!

Now y’all know I love my Sheriff Cleveland Clee Atkinson Edgecombe County but let him get in the news talking that b.s. that some of these other Sheriffs are saying about he ain’t goings to enforce Governor Roy Cooper Executive Order.

I am going to hold him accountable just like I will other folk, family, friends, co-workers and other.

As I ride from County to County I see Sweepstakes open but I don’t see any open in Edgecombe County (County) wonder why?

I see my Sheriff wearing a mask and act like it does not bother him while some other Sheriffs act as if they are above the law.

I am proud of my Sheriff and know he tries to work with folk but some folk just don’t get it. I talk to a lot of folk and it amazes me some of the mess that folk say and do but because I know folk, well it don’t shock me.

How in the hell does a Sheriff say they ain’t goings to enforce the Governor’s Executive Order? Who in the hell does that? I know who better not!

Oh now Run Run and Tell That!

I’ll wait!