Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503060038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Come a week from Monday, though, Murphy will take on a responsibility of a different breed. He'll be working for the Planning and Zoning Department.
Murphy was the only officer who agreed to transfer to the Police Department last summer when the county abolished its separate animal control unit and established four ``community service officers'' within the police force.
Community service officers handle domestic animal calls, but they also work in traffic control, parking enforcement and other areas as time permits. The officers, unlike animal control staff in the past, must go through the police academy and become sworn personnel.
When County Administrator Elmer Hodge decided to merge the departments, Murphy's three colleagues in the animal control unit opted to accept other jobs with the county instead of applying for the new positions. Two joined the Parks and Recreation Department, and the third took a job with the Sheriff's Office.
As a result, Murphy was left to enforce the county's controversial cat ordinance and other animal regulations by himself until three new officers graduated from the police academy and completed additional training.
None of the three officers, all of whom will continue to answer calls for the department, had previous animal control experience.
Supervisor Harry Nickens, who opposed the merger, said Murphy's departure deepens his concerns.
``We had already lost a considerable amount of experience in animal control officers, and with John's departure, we've lost more,'' Nickens said. ``Will they be able to handle the calls? They will, and they will handle them in a responsible way, but we no longer have a core of animal control knowledge.''
But Chairman Fuzzy Minnix, after learning of Murphy's decision to leave Friday night, said he doesn't anticipate problems.
``I'm hopeful the other men who worked with him and were trained by him will be able to continue the county's fine service,'' Minnix said.
Murphy's last day was Friday. The three remaining community service officers will continue to cover animal control calls, and a fourth person will join the force.
A replacement already has been enrolled in the spring academy program, Lt. Gary Roche said, but he probably won't complete training until June or July.
Roche said the department is well-prepared to enforce the cat ordinance and to respond to public calls, but acknowledged that Murphy will be missed.
``John has been invaluable to us,'' he said. ``He got us through a difficult period in the initial transition, and I was disappointed to learn he was leaving.''
Murphy, who was supposed to begin academy training this spring, said he decided to leave the Police Department because his new job will be ``a good career opportunity.''
Though the job does not include a pay increase, he will work regular hours, assisting the public with permit applications and researching planning and zoning issues.
by CNB