Sheriff of Hancock County, West Virginia J.S. Gittings, Sheriff D.T. Murray, Chief Deputy, PO Box 102 N. Court St. New Cumberland, WV 26047
March 5, 2026
Superintendent Walt Saunders Hancock County Schools 130 Rockefeller Circle New Cumberland WV 26047
Superintendent Saunders,
After taking the time to process all the information in our meeting when we discussed the PRO Program and the cuts that you intended to make regarding the PROs, I would be remiss not to address this issue with you. I understand there is a major problem with the finances in the Hancock County Schools and you must make some very difficult decisions. I am not blind to that. But cutting PROs to where two schools will share one PRO with OGMS and NMES along with one at Weir Middle and WES is not a good alternative. A part-time PRO is not a good plan and leaves a large hole in four schools. Losing the full-time Rover position is a significant loss to both Weirton Police and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, however it is something can be dealt with. Keeping part-time PROs at a school is a potentially dangerous situation.
The levy that was passed, with a small portion going to the PRO program was not to develop a PRO Program or be its sole source, but to expand it. When the levy was placed on the ballot, the safety portion was pushed heavily, and in fact it is less than 20% of the levy, When it passed, there were already PROs in both high schools and middle schools. The levy made it possible to place PROs in each elementary school. So, my point is that $700,000.00 plus was not for the entire PRO program but was meant to add to it.
Having part-time PROs is a step backwards. My office has been forced to cut personnel, which leaves us with less deputies to respond to any incidents at the schools. This would leave me with the possibility of me having to fight not to lose more deputies, which would have a severe impact. If an event had occurred at the one school that may not have PRO presence at the time, I could not guarantee how fast of a response there would be, It would be as quickly as possible, but not as fast have the PRO at present. That liability, as far as I am concerned, lays with the Hancock County Schools. You cannot put a price on safety and the security of the students and staff in our schools, however, I believe you just did.
Respectfully
Sheriff J.S. Gittings SG/bav
