Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / March 7, 1974, edition 1 / Page 2
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I I Pa|;e2A KINGS MOUNTAIN MIRROR Tiiu -sday, March?, 1974 Q & A In-Depth Look At KMPD (From page 1A> ROPER- I don’t want any of the officers talking about the others. If they have a complaint they should go to their shift superviser and get it ironed out. If that doesn’t wo.lr, *hpn it’s time to come to the chief about iL .MIRROR- In a board meeting a couple of weeks ago, Sgt. Tommy King made a statement to the effect that the former chief had told the men he was going to ask for raises but that the commissioners said they had never heard anything about it. Wilt you make pay increase requests? ROPER- Well they’ve (city board) already been approached about raises. We asked for IS per cent across the board plus a raise of one dollar per year of service for longevity pay. They are studying this request now. Of course the men who have recently been promoted to sergeant will get a raise for the rank. In talking about the 15 per cent pay raise, I was asked what effect it would have on my salary. I feel that if the men can get their 15 per cent raise. I’m satisfied with what I’m making now as chief without getting a ra ise myself. MIRROR- What do you make now? ROPER- $212.50 per week. MIRROR- What you’re saying is that if the men get a raise, you don’t need or want one for yourself? ROPER- Yes. I think the chiefs salary is a fair enough pay scale. I do feel the officers are underpaid. MIRROR- What was your salary before as captain of detec tives? ROPER- $145 per week. MIRROR- Do you think there is too much difference between the salary of a captain and a chief? ROPER- Yes I do. Winter Promotion ENDS March 20, 1974 Buy your MOBILE HOME Today "FREE With the purchase of MOBILE HOME your choice of either Washer <S Dryer 19" Color T. V. One year park rent Septic tank OFFER EISDS MARCH 20 IBLUEBIRD MOBILE HOMES INC. Hwy. 74 W. Kings Mountain, N. C. “Pm going to work closely with the men and give the cttUens a good job.” MIRROR- The difference in pay between a patroiman who has been with the city a year and your present salary is around $80 per week. The rookie officer now aiso has to go through 160 hours of training in and out of the ciassroom. Do you think that difference is too great? ROPER-1 think $130 per week is a fair wage to start off with. MIRROR- At what level would you recommend a raise in salary? ROPER- If a man comes into police work with the starting pay $130 and stays a year, proving he’s police material, I think then his pay should be increased MIRROR- Have you given any thought to merit pay raises? ROPER- Yes I have. I know other departments have it and I know it causes controversy. MIRROR- Who else has it? ROPER- Cleveland County has it. MIRROR- Why does it cause controversy? ROPER- It has its good points and bad points. Take for example a sergeant and a lieutenant. On merit raises, a sergeant could make more than the lieutenant and it causes hard feelings. My thought is we’re here to do a job and if it’s outstanding, it’s part of the job anyway. MIRROR- Then what are your thoughts on awards of recognition, such as an award for an outstanding arrest or community service, etc? ROPER- These awards are somewhat different. If a man gets out here and does a really fine job on a case I plan to write a letter commending him and will put it in his personal folder. MIRROR- As far as the various schoois go, do you plan to send the men to them? ItOPER- We’r^oing to mt ^ n^y-pien into.gqhpcils asjwe„, Can' RighfriSw we haveth^' civiran'dfs^tchlsrs arid as siSon as a jail detention school opens close, we’re going to enroll them. MIRROR- Who pays for these schools? ROPER- The city pays travel expense which is all the money required anyway. There usually is no cost for the courses sponsored by the community colleges. MIRROR- What is your concept of a modern day police officer and his role in the community? ROPER- There is a lot of difference now than when I joined A policeman today needs an eiiucation and needs to level headed. He has to make split second decisions. If he stops a car or grabs a man to make an arrest, he has to decide im mediately what is right and what is wrong. ’Then he has to go to court and prove his decision in front of an attorney that has been practicing law for years and this officer has to be alert SAVE - II HONDA CB-750 K4 1" Per Mile HONDA CORRAL Hwy. 74 By-Pass East — Phone 482-0331 Dr. Lof(an Carson To Speak Monday Dr. Logan Carson, assistant professor of religion at Gardner-Webb College, pays a return visit to the Alpha and Omega Bible Class next Monday. The class, which consists of high school and college age young people, will meet at 7:30 pm. at the home of Bill and Betty Moss, 1403 Grover Rd. ‘TK&vun P.O.BOX 6 PHONE 739-7496 Member N.C. Press Association GARLAND ATKINS Publisher DARRELL AUS'HN General Manager TOM McIN’TYRE Editor GARY STEWART Sports Editor CLYDE HILL Advertising Director ’The Kings Mountain Mirror is published each Thursday in Kings Mountain, N.C. by General Publishing Co., P.O. Box 6, Kings Mountain, N.C., 28086. Offices located downtown at 146 W. Mountain SL Phone: 739- 7496. Subscription rales: $4 plus tax per year mailed inside N.C. Out-of-state, one year. fS-plus tax. Second class Postage paid at Kings Mountain. enough and familar enough with the law and court to testify in the case. The days of blackjacking are gone. MIRROR- Again by my close association with the department. I’ve noticed that despite pay, etc., the men in the KMPD are very dedicated. Why don't they quit and go to another department where they could make more? ROPER- A man has to be dedicated to police work to stay in it anywhere. After you’re in it a while you get dedicated to it and it gets in your blood If you stay with a department say eight, ten or 12 years, you feel like it’s your home and you put up with a whole lot before you’d swap jobs. I have been here almost 18 years and Fd hate to lose my seniority or retirement that I would if I left and went to another department. MIRROR- It’s said a happy worker is a productive worker. Is that your goal for the KMPD? ROPER- If a man has a happy home life and a job he enjoys, he’ll come to work with a smile on his face and do a good days work. If he has problems on his job, he’s not going to give the dtizeis and taxpayers what they’re paying for because his mind is on those troubles. If the job is running smoothly, you can tell a difference in the man. MIRROR- In that personnel meeting, the talk of new equip ment arose. What will be done in thisarea? ROPER- We’re going to try to get as many new automobiles as we can for this next fis(»l year. We’re going to request four new cars, one for each shift I think we need at least one new car on a shift. MIRROR- Where have the cars come from before? ROPER- We’ve been getting them from the state. MIRROR- Are they not used highway patrol cars? ROPER- That’s right. The state has proven beyond doubt that 50,000 miles is the life of one of those automobiles out on patrol or they’d keep them for another year. That’s why after a state auto gets anywhere from 46-50,000 miles on it, they sell it and get a new one as a replacement MIRROR- Then are the cars “shot” when the department gets them? ROPER- Yes. MIRROR- Is the stock of equipment such as pistols, uniforms, etc. plentiful and in good shape? ROPER- Yes. Everything seems to be alright at present. MIRROR- Have you ri-<-i-.od any applications from people wanting to Joing the force? ROPER-1 believe I’ve had three since I have been chief. MIRROR- A statement was made in a meeting recently that there was no men in the department qualified to be chief. What are your thoughts on this? ROPER- I think there are several qualified to be chief of police. I think it wasa staten.ait made without thought. (See ORA pJA) “No one man makes a police departmenL It takes the men to make a g(MMl department” Why Is Your SMITH DRUG Pharmacist Called ‘Personal’? Because he’s always available for personal consultation. He makes sure you understand your doctor’s instructicms for instance. I It’s a very good idea to check with him on non-prescriptions too. The fifth .1 largest cause of hospital admissions is driu misuse resulting from self- .’’1 I medieations. Be safe. Ask yon Smith Drugs Personnl Pharmacist A.D. support National Kidney Foundation As a part of our support of nationally recognized non-profit health related organizations, A.D. Pharmacies will con tribute $1,000 this month to the National Kidney Foundation to help them continue their search for the total answer to dis eases of the kidney - prevention, treat ment, and cure. National Kiijney Founidation 116 East 27th Street New York. N Y. 10016 PANTY HOSE 0tanUj PAR 00 250 REVLON FLEX NON AEROSOL HAIR SPRAY GIVES 3 TIMES MORE HOLD POWER $J49 69* SPECIAL OLD SPICE SHAVE CREAM O FOR $1 00 SMITH^B»0RU6S OPEN 9 A M TO 9 P DAILY ’“KM PLAZA. KINGS MOUNTAIN. Kt OPEN 9 A MTO 9 P M DAILY
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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March 7, 1974, edition 1
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