Waynesville town leaders are talking about adding extra security measures at meetings after several board members received threats.
Because of what Waynesville Town Manager Rob Hites describes as those credible threats, the town is now considering using metal detecting wands on people as they walk into Board of Aldermen meetings, Hites told News 13 Thursday, Sept. 22.
“In today's world, nothing surprises me anymore,” said Butch Mullinix.
Residents say times have changed.
“As dangerous as this society can be nowadays, maybe it's not a bad idea,” Mullinix said of using metal detectors.
“We've also received information from law enforcement agencies about credible threats of bodily injury to other board members,” Hites said.
He said the threats are not from people who normally attend the meetings, but that they are serious enough for aldermen to fear for their lives.
“These are out-of-town groups that have selected some of our board members for threats,” Hites said. “We're not completely certain why because we're not given that information."
Waynesville Police Chief David Adams noted the tensions across the country these days.
“It's been pretty hostile the last two-and-a-half years nationwide, since COVID," Adams said. "Some of it may stem from that or some people just don't like public officials nowadays.”
Just this month, federal charges were levied against a Haywood County woman for allegedly creating bogus bounties on local leaders.
“I think the FBI and the SBI investigated that and there are some other threats...have not been made public against some other aldermen,” Adams said.
The FBI confirms the violation as an "interstate threatening communication."
The current climate is putting metal detecting wands into the conversation. There would be possibly two wands to used, though not at every Board of Aldermen meeting. Rather, only when threats are deemed serious.
“If the board members themselves get a call from saying, 'I'm coming to take you out at tonight's board meeting,' that would be the occasion where we would use the wand,” Hites said.
They would be used to protect aldermen and those attending the meeting.
“If we decide to go that route, the public will be given notice,” Adams said. “We don't want to be invasive at all. It's going to be minimal if we do go that route."
“Maybe the meetings should just be...people could see them virtually,” Mullinix said.
Chief Adams said the town will consider using the wands over the next couple of months before coming to a final decision.