NORWAY – Norway residents, business owners and their employees were already concerned about the increase in break-ins and other crimes before Mayor Brad Fogle raised the possibility the town’s police department may have to be disbanded.

Fogle made the comment at last month’s council meeting, saying the police department is currently costing the town more money than it’s generating.

Norway currently does not have a full-time police department and is not seeking a full-time officer at this time.

The town’s proposed spending plan for 2009 allocates $152,500 for the police department. But last month, Fogle said, “We may decide not to have a police department at all.”

“We have been discussing the possibility of not having a police department for several months. Right now, we only have a part-time officer and although he works very hard, the police department is actually costing the town at this point. I prepared this proposed budget, but I want everyone to understand that we may decide to disband the department completely,” he said.

The council approved first reading of the 2009 budget at that meeting, with the understanding it can amend the spending plan during second reading in January.

“The money in this budget comes from the citizens of Norway, and everyone needs to have the opportunity to have input. We need to cut some $20,000 from the general fund and public works proposed budgets,” the mayor said at the November meeting, “and I am open to suggestions.”

“We are in a recession,” Fogle said. “Money is tight, and things are going to get worse before they get better. We have bills that must be paid, but we also have to be realistic about the rest of the budget. We have to tighten our belts.”

But closing the police department has folks worried, especially business people in Norway.

Jimmy Brown, owner of Brown’s Millworks, said he thinks the town needs a police department.

“When the alarm goes off, it is nice to have a professional officer on the scene before I drive up. We need a police officer to do those things that an officer does to maintain order in a town,” he said.

His wife Candy Brown said, “It’s a scary thought that there might not be a police officer around when you need one. I hope we can keep our police department.”

Cindy Williams, owner of Friendly’s Food Mart, said, “After all the break-ins and vandalism I’ve experienced, I wasn’t sure we still had a police department.”

She added, “It would be nice if we had an officer in town all the time. I understand there is a money problem and the town is trying to work something out with Sheriff Williams and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office. We need protection now. If our protection is going to be provided by OCSO, let’s get it started now with an office provided in Norway.”

Linda Still, an employee of the S.C. Bank and Trust branch in Norway, is worried about the increasing crime around the area.

“Times are getting pretty hard, and the number of bank robberies are increasing. This bank and its employees need police protection. At night, the lighting around the bank is not very good, and it is a comfort to know that a police officer is available if needed,” she said.

Rachel Croft, another SCBT employee, agreed.

“There is no doubt that crime is on the rise. Look at how many times Friendly’s has been broken into. It’s just across the street from this bank,” Croft said.

“Every day we receive scam notices and e-mails concerning bank robberies. Business owners and their employees are so vulnerable. If Norway closes its police department, many of the businesses will be sitting ducks for criminal activity. Money is tight, and it looks like things are going to get tighter. That means more crimes and more ‘get rich quick’ scams. People need to be very careful.”

n T&D Correspondent Sherryl M. Peters can be reached by e-mail at boykinbaby@surrealestate.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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