Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 25, 1995                   TAG: 9501260047
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

COUNTYWIDE POLICE FOR PULASKI MAY BE STUDIED

The issue will come up when the Board of Supervisors and two town councils hold their quarterly joint meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the county Administration Building.

Dublin Town Council considered a proposal several years ago to merge its Police Department with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, but no action was ever taken.

Regardless of how the study goes, the three law enforcement agencies may enter into a multijurisdictional compact for enforcing motor vehicle decal ordinances. Dublin Police Chief Russell Gwaltney made the proposal earlier this month for an arrangement where all three jurisdictions could issue citations when vehicles had no town or county decal. The merger would expedite the payment of personal property taxes on vehicles and increase revenue, he said.

Pulaski Police Chief Herb Cooley agreed. He will take the proposal to Pulaski town officials.

The county Board of Supervisors voted Monday night for such an agreement, after hearing from Sheriff Ralph Dobbins. But the county will probably have to adopt an ordinance authorizing the agreement. County Attorney Tom McCarthy will draft an ordinance for the board to consider.

Other items to be considered at the upcoming meeting by the three governing bodies include extending a joint recreation agreement, renewing a cable television franchise in the three jurisdictions, and a study on handling future emergency medical services. The governments also will discuss the possibility of consolidating other services.