I used to feel safe in my small home town of Saltville Va. but recently the charges being brought against various members of the Smyth County Police department on alleged drug charges, the what I call out right “dog fights” at nearly 99% of town council meetings, and the absolute aggressive response when making arrests by the town police makes me question the term protect and serve. I feel as though that some feel that because they hold the positions they hold that they are above the law themselves. What do you think?

There is no reason why anyone should not feel safe in there town. But in this day and time there are not many people that you can trust. There are much higher sources out there that can help people. There are many good people in Saltville. Maybe some of those people need to stand up for what they believe in. There is no excuse for Police Officers to act this way. They are suppose to help the people no matter what the situation may be. It these Police Officers have problems then they need help just like anyone else. I assume with everything that is going on some of them need help more than others. The best answer I can give is that they all need prayer and believe me I do alot of that for them. One of these days there going to have to stand before a higher judge than just a judge in court. It also says in the Bible.  God says vengeances is mine. So have no worries things take care of there self in time. Not in our time but Gods time.

I believe the original purpose of a town police dept. was to protect the town citizens from harm. It seems that this is no longer their purpose. Here in Glade Spring, the police spend most of their time running radar. Some say the town council and mayor are pressuring them to write tickets to create revenue. If this is true, we need to remember this on election day. I have never seen them patrol the few buisnesses left in town, nor have I seen them patrol the town streets on a regular basis. I have seen them many times outside the corporate limits near the chevron, truck stop, pizza plus, wendys,and dollar store. All these places are in Washington county, and I think the sheriffs dept. are more than capable of taking care of this area. Remember, the taxpayers in town are paying for protection, not harassment.

I think the federal government needs to take a look at this area, starting with Saltville and Glade Spring, the people of Appalachia finally took a stand and I think its time we did the same as a matter of fact some of Saltville’s strays were over there when things came out huh, go figure

Would someone please explain to me what gives these Police Officers the right to go out of there jurisdiction. I had one 0f my friends in Glade Spring to get pulled over by one of the Glade Spring police officers in Glade. She was in Washington County and he did’nt pull her over until she got in the town of Glade. I had another friend where the police officer said they got them at Forest hill Dr. but did not pull them over until they got to the trash dump in Washington County. I am like Mr. Catlin. What are the taxpayers paying for. To get pulled over in both counties to make money. I don’t understand. I think the Wasington County police are capable of taking care of Washington County. I have heard several people say that the Saltville police department runs up and down the Salt Trail all hours of the night. The Salt Trail runs in to Washington County. So whats up with all of this. Taxpayers must be paying taxes all over the place. I live in Meadowview and I don’t know what our taxes go for.At least Glade and Saltville have trash pickup that’s something we don’t have. But we do have alot of Police Officers from all counties everywhere except where they are suppose to be.

Well don’t feel too bad - Wytheville police county and city are just as bad - I’m a disabled person with a service dog and have actually been taken off property because of my service dog - I was told by the Wythe County Police that I had to have a prescription on me and for her to be “certified” for me to be allowed to have her in public places - A) They don’t write prescriptions for service dogs and B) not only can no one at the police dept - city or county tell me where to take her to get her “certified” but the state police and court house told me since I trained her myself that the only person who can certify her is me… Also I have a friend who’s home has been broken into 7 or 8 times in the past year and 5 of those times the police wouldn’t even take a report - one time they said it was because only a freezer full of food that was stolen…

So please don’t feel like ya’ll have the only police departments that suck… Our’s does too…