Mount Vernon Police Chief Robert Morgan requested the City Council during its April 28 meeting to authorize the hiring of an additional police officer for his department. He said that this position was included in his budget.
"What you folks are doing for me tonight is giving me another officer to my bottom line. That's not saying the new guy we hire is going to be the next drug detective," Morgan said, according to the meeting recording. "Somebody that's already shown their skills, paid their dues, and is ready and eager to go work in this is going to move up to the Detective Division, which will create a vacuum down in the patrol division, and the new position will bring that back up to full staff."
The city council conducted a second reading of the ordinance to add an officer, with a third reading planned for its next meeting on May 12. Adding this position would increase the department's personnel to 11 supervisors (lieutenants and sergeants), no more than 22 police officers, and one records clerk.
Detective Sgt. Justin Willis shared insights into his work schedule during the meeting. According to Willis, "The city gets busy once the sun goes down, the street lights come on. So we try to do a lot of hours then."
Willis further reported that in 2023, the department had 95 drug indictments, which increased slightly to 101 in 2024. In 2025 so far, they have recorded 21 drug-related indictments. More than a pound of methamphetamine was removed from circulation with 1.75 pounds seized in 2023 and 2024 combined. Typically, arrests involve suspects with only a few grams of drugs.
In terms of overdose incidents, there were four deaths in 2023 and five in 2024 within Mount Vernon. No overdose deaths have been officially recorded in 2025 yet; however, Willis noted they are awaiting toxicologists' reports on two recent deaths. The availability of Narcan has contributed to reducing overdoses. As summer approaches, Willis anticipates an increase in crime rates, including drug-related activities.
