| By Bob Weaver
In what could be a first in West Virginia, there appears to be movement afoot to close and move the Grantsville Detachment of the West Virginia State Police.
There has been speculation for several weeks regarding the moving of the local detachment's four officers to a newly established barracks near Big Otter in Clay County.
That would mean a consolidation of the Clay-Calhoun barracks near the intersection of I-79.
Sgt. O. S. Starsick, local detachment commander, said he has not been informed about such action, although sources said there is movement toward consolidation.
Sgt. Starsick did say that he had been instructed to look for new quarters for the Grantsville Detachment, at the time, indicating another location in the county.
Two public information requests to clarify the speculation from the Hur Herald to Col. C. R. Smithers, superintendent of the WV State Police, have gone unanswered.
Sources in Clay County said the agency had been looking at a $450,000 house with 35 acres near Big Otter, which would suggest the move is not likely being made as a cost-savings measure.
Clay sources say State Police have looked at the property pictured above - a $450,000 house on 35-acres near Big Otter with 16 rooms - five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, the realtor saying "Once you enter the door you will have stepped into Better Homes and Gardens" See
www.jeaniedavis.com
The location would increase response times and additional costs when officers would be dispatched to large sections of Clay or Calhoun, an issue of concern with the Calhoun Commission.
The Calhoun Commission is sending requests to State Senator Jeff Kessler and Delegate David Walker to look into the matter.
The county's commissioners will be opposing the moving of State Police officers, who have been stationed in the county for about 75 years.
Former Grantsville detachment commander Sgt. John Bonazzo has reportedly been promoted to First Sergeant of the multi-county troop, and is now in charge of Calhoun.
Sgt. Bonazzo, while stationed in Grantsville, issued a memo to Calhoun 911 that officers in the county would no longer be answering night calls.
When the memo was released for public information, the Hur Herald was taken to task for releasing what Sgt. Bonazzo called a confidential memo.
A short time later, the memo regarding not answering night calls was rescinded, and Sgt. Bonazzo was transferred to Braxton County.
During his service in Braxton, Sgt. Bonazzo was suspended for a brief time after he issued an 11-person list of Braxton citizens that the agency was to target.
The State Police, a while back, attempted to schedule officers assigned to Wirt and Pleasants County to daily duty in Wood County, saying the volume in Wood necessitated additional manpower.
The agency told public officials and citizens at a public meeting that the troopers would respond back to their home county when needed.
Following public outcry, the agency dropped the plan.
State Police in Calhoun have actively been answering calls, complaints and conducting criminal investigations within the county during the last year, exceeding performance levels.
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