MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Voters in Martinsburg have approved the police levy by a margin of 62 percent.
Martinsburg Police Chief George Swartwood talked about the levy on a recent episode of Panhandle Live:
Those nine officers make up about a fifth of the police force in the city.
The renewal of the Police Levy will be for five (5) fiscal years beginning respectively on July 1, 2024; The current City of Martinsburg Excess Police Levy expires June
30, 2024.
The total approximate amount the Police Levy will generate per year is $1,560,000.
The total approximate amount generated for the five-year period is $7,800,000.
The levy required a super majority of at least 60 percent of the vote in order to pass.
A press release from the MPD gave some details:
The Police Levy budget helps provide the following Martinsburg Police Department services:
• Nine (9) Martinsburg Police Officers, including our School Resource Officer at Martinsburg High School.
These nine (9) Police Officers make up approximately 20% MPD’s police force
• Response to 26,002 calls for 2021; 17,000+ calls year to date for 2022
• 3 K-9 Patrol Units
• Aggressive Drug Enforcement and Investigations – Including “CIRT Team”
• Enforcement of Martinsburg’s “Drug House Ordinance”
• Special Response Team – Hostage/Barricade situations and “high risk” search warrants
• DUI Enforcement
• Downtown Patrol Officer
• Bicycle Patrol
• “Adopt a Classroom” – Police visits to schools and virtual meeting visits
• “Night Eyes” – Residential House/Apartment and Business Checks
• Future Citizens Police Academy & Junior Police Academy
• Citizen Ride-A-Long Program
• Citizen Vehicle Unlocks
• Funeral Escorts
• Handle with Care Program
• The Martinsburg Initiative – The new model opioid prevention program and MPD social worker
The total approximate amount the Police Levy will generate per year is $1,560,000.
The total approximate amount generated for the five-year period is $7,800,000.
Funds generated are to maintain the current nine (9) Police Officers’ salaries, insurance, benefits,
equipment, police vehicles and other incidental items.
Funds raised in excess of the actual amount expended to support nine (9) officers shall be used solely
for additional equipment, vehicles, supplies facilities, and personnel required by MPD