By Hugh Fisher
hfisher@salisburypost.com
LANDIS ó Following a closed session at Monday’s meeting of the Landis Board of Aldermen, Police Chief Reggie Faggart announced his intention to retire, according to Mayor Dennis Brown and several aldermen.
“I was sad for his decision to turn in his resignation, but I’m sure he felt it was the proper time and the proper place, and we accepted it,” Brown said.
The mayor would not comment on details of the discussion leading up to Faggart’s decision.
“I really can’t answer that. I don’t know what his thoughts were behind it,” Brown said.
“We were in some discussions about the Police Department, and at that time, he decided to retire, which is certainly his prerogative,” Brown said.
No one returned a reporter’s after-hours call to the Landis Police Department, seeking Faggart for comment.
Brown said he has called a special meeting of the board for Friday at 5:30 p.m. to discuss details of Faggart’s retirement.
“He (Faggart) has some clerical things to take care of, and we are giving him this week,” Brown said. “And Friday at 5:30 when we have our next meeting, all of the details of his retirement and the interim and all of that will be aired in public meeting.”
Faggart took over as police chief in Landis following the September 2006 resignation of former chief Charles Childers, who is currently serving a prison term for a federal child pornography conviction.
Lt. Mark Benfield will take over as interim chief, Alderman Tony Hilton said. But Hilton would not comment at length about the discussion at Monday’s meeting.
“We discussed the status of the Police Department, and Chief Faggart decided that he thought he would retire,” Hilton said.
“There were some questions about the direction of the Police Department,” Hilton said. “It’s not any one thing.”
Hilton added that he “has known Reggie for about as long as I can remember.”
“He’s a good guy. We’re always sorry to see good people leave,” Hilton said.
Hilton said he was confident in Benfield’s leadership. “He’s been in the business a long time.”
Alderman Roger Safrit acknowledged Faggart decided to retire.
“But as for the other thing, I cannot comment on that at this time,” Safrit said. “The only thing I can say is that decision was made because we thought that was the best decision to make at this time. And I think he (Benfield) will do a fine job as far as interim chief goes.”
“The retirement was solely his decision,” said Alderman James Furr. “He was of age and had the qualifications, and certainly he has served well in his tenure.
“And we’ll be beginning our search for a new permanent police chief.”
Furr said the Police Department was “certainly in a mode of improvement.”
“We’ve certainly had our low spots with the Police Department, and we’ve overcome that,” Furr said. “We’re beginning, and we will continue to improve.”
Calling Faggart “a good officer,” Furr said he hopes to see changes in leadership at the department ó “not necessarily from the top but leadership throughout the ranks,” he said.
“Reggie’s been a lifelong friend of mine, and we certainly left the room last night as friends,” Furr said.
“He made the decision voluntarily. He just offered his retirement.”
“The Police Department, as you know, has had some terrible ups and downs,” Brown said. “I don’t think it has ever been able to gather its focus and turn the way they want to turn.”
Brown said aldermen never lacked trust in Faggart’s leadership.
“There was ó you know, I had had ongoing conversations with the chief on the problems he faced … I think he just saw that he wanted to make a change,” Brown said.
“I was very pleased when he was named chief. I thought he was the man they should have named chief.
“I was sad to see him go. But at the same time, it was his decision, it was the decision he made and I will certainly back up that decision.”