Seadrift Police Officer Lewis Warren introduces Eros to the Seadrift City Council.

Those in attendance at the June 2 City Council meeting were pleased to meet the newest member of Seadrift’s police force, “Eros”, the narcotics and patrol dog. A gift to the force, Eros has been working on a trial basis for a while and has already proven himself invaluable in reducing crime in and around our area. At the June 2nd meeting, Council officially adopted a K-9 Resolution, agreeing to take responsibility for his maintenance. Eros will continue to be handled and cared for by Officer Lewis Warren, who has donated his time working with him and has outfitted his patrol car to accommodate Eros.

As a demonstration of Eros’ abilities, Officer Warren hid a packet of drugs under one of several traffic cones set up in Council chambers. In a matter of seconds, Eros was able to pick out the cone where the drugs were hidden, much to the delight of the audience. Police Chief Leonard Bermea pointed out that with Eros’ abilities, anyone who is transporting drugs and who is the subject of a traffic stop in Seadrift, will quite likely find themselves under arrest. Even if the drugs are well hidden, Eros can spot them, and Officer Warren has the tools to dismantle any part of the vehicle where they are hidden.

In another action designed to increase the effectiveness of Seadrift’s Police Department, Council approved the presentation of an Interlocal Agreement to Commissioner’s Court to allow the City to use part of the old Library, which is owned by the County, and now houses the Justice of the Peace office and court, and to designate it as the “Seadrift Justice Center”. According to Mayor DeForest and Police Chief Bermea, there is a great need to expand the office space of the Police Department. The small office space now being used is insufficient to house all the evidence that the Department must store, is inadequate to serve as a proper interview room, and is too small to allow the officers space for making their reports and accessing the computer. Under this proposed agreement, the City will provide routine maintenance and lawn care and utilities while the County will provide insurance. Our County Commissioner, Kenny Finster, will present this agreement to the Commissioner’s Court for their approval.