Clemmons looks to Winston-Salem for police protection

The village of Clemmons is seeking legislation that would provide extraterritorial law enforcement authority for the Winston-Salem Police Department to offer public safety services to the town’s residents.

In a July 30 letter sent to Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines, Clemmons Mayor John Bost requested the Winston-Salem City Council’s approval for the town to begin discussions with members of the General Assembly and to begin drafting the proposed legislation. Bost said that the village council’s decision did not imply it was dissatisfied with the protection currently provided by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

John Aldridge, special deputy attorney general for the NC Department of Justice, weighed in on the matter. In a letter to Warren Kasper, who serves as counsel to the village, Aldridge said he was unaware of any situation where extra-territorial law enforcement services could be authorized by an agreement between two municipalities.

Under current state law, the city of Winston-Salem could not expand its extra-territorial jurisdiction to the village of Clemmons. Aldridge recommended that Clemmons seek “specific statutory authority” to receive law enforcement services from the Winston-Salem Police Department.

In a letter dated Aug. 3, Joines stated he would ask City Manager Lee Garrity to present the village of Clemmons’ request to the city’s Public Safety and Finance committees for consideration.