ROCKINGHAM — Police Chief Billy Kelly was presented with a plaque during Tuesday’s City Council meeting for his department’s completion of a Public Safety Risk Management Review.
The certificate was presented by Matthew Selves, public safety risk management consultant with the N.C. League of Municipalities.
The review, according to Selves, assesses 36 categories of departmental policies, operations, procedures and practices, specifically high-risk liability areas including use of force, employment processes, training and evidence processing.
Selves said Kelly and the command staff of the Rockingham Police Department “prioritized this initiative.”
“The department was very proactive and involved during the whole process … (and) were very open and transparent …,” Selves said.
Selves, himself, has more than 20 years in law enforcement, including serving more than a decade as chief of the small Iredell County town of Troutman.
“These officers that I’ve worked with, including the Rockingham Police Department, demonstrate a high level of commitment to the community … (and enact policies) to positively impact their communities and relationships,” Selves said.
“It’s always good to have someone outside come in and see what you do, how you do …and make sure that we’re doing everything we can for our community,” Kelly said.
Following that presentation, the City Council approved a resolution for the department to accept a $25,000 grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program for Kelly’s role as the district law enforcement liaison — which includes Richmond, Anson, Stanly, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Scotland, Montgomery Cumberland counties.
According to the department’s website, Kelly has been working with the GHSP since 2002.
The grant requires no match from the city, and covers Kelly’s travel costs and the purchase of highway safety equipment.
The department received a $20,000 grant in 2019, which Kelly, at the time, said would be used to purchase in-car laptops for patrol officers and update the in-car camera system, in addition to travel expenses.
The Council also approved a certificate of convenience and necessity for Kelly Nelson to operate a new taxi service in town — OK Nellz LLC.
According to city documents, Capt. Richard Greene checked both Nelson’s criminal and driving history and found no reason to deny her request.
Kelly said Nelson would initially operate the service from her Steele Street home until she can find a building.
