Dumfries sets public hearings on police, Election Day changes

DUMFRIES — Police officers in Dumfries could go from having seven bosses to one.

The Dumfries Town Council wants to hear from the public on just who should command the town’s police force.

In December 2016 under former Mayor Jerry Foreman, the town’s police chief and all offices were placed under the direction of all seven members of the Town Council.

The move came after Foreman was sentenced to 24 hours of community service after his plea of no contest in Prince William County Court to allegations he removed an opponent’s campaign sign during in April 2016, just before the town’s election that he won.

This week, the town council voted 6-1 to authorize a public hearing set for November 7. If approved, only the town’s police chief, not the officers, would report to the seven-member council while the chief’s officers would be beholden only to the chief.

Mayor Derrick Wood was the lone dissenting vote on the issue, saying the police chief is like any other town government department head, like public works, and that they should report to a Town Manager.

Last month, Dumfries’ leaders sent former Town Manager Robbert Ritter packing. Originally hired under Foreman, the cursing sitting council that took their seats in July said Ritter “wasn’t the right fit” for the town.

Vice Mayor Monae Nickerson also questioned the need for her council to oversee the police.

“We need to consider where we are today,” she said. “When we have a new town manager, he should be able to handle having the police department up under him.”

Also on the November 7 docket, the town will ask residents whether or not they want to move elections from May to November to coincide with state and federal General Elections.

Town officials say moving Election Day to November would increase voter turn out and save money. In 2016, the town budgeted $2,580 for its town election and $1,129 for its elections two years later.