Wednesday, May 28, 2025, was nearly a day that would live in infamy for the residents of Snow Hill, North Carolina. By a narrow 3-2 vote, the Town Council chose to disband the Snow Hill Police Department – a decision that risked altering the very character and safety of this small town. The stated reason? Cost savings. But the facts, the public outcry, and the gravity of the moment suggested something deeper was at stake.

Thankfully, this story doesn’t end in tragedy. Just days later, after an emergency meeting and, I believe, much reflection, the Board reversed course. This time, the vote was unanimous to retain the police department – an extraordinary act of humility and leadership worthy of high praise.

We must not forget what was nearly lost: a trusted local department made up of officers who know the people, the streets, and the rhythms of Snow Hill. Familiarity, quick response, and a visible, personalized presence – these cannot easily be replaced by county deputies stretched thin across a broader area. When a town gives up its local police force, it doesn’t just lose patrols. It loses relationships, institutional memory, and a sense of shared responsibility.

The initial vote was troubling not just for its practical implications but also for what it suggested – a shift in values. Public safety was treated as a budget line rather than a civic pillar. Ideology seemed to outweigh experience. Yet residents rose in gracious but passionate defense of a department that had served them faithfully.

As someone who grew up in Snow Hill, owns property there, and whose 85-year-old mother still lives in the home where I was raised, I felt this decision deeply. But I was not without hope. When good citizens show up, as they did, positive outcomes tend to follow when the cause is just.

U.S. Congressman Don Davis, a former mayor of Snow Hill, spoke out strongly in support of the police department. But the victory belongs not to any one person or political party. I believe the clarity that ultimately came to the Board was the result of God’s hand moving among them. Many citizens prayed earnestly for their leaders to be given wisdom, and, notably, Board members were praying for the same. I believe divine influence was unmistakable. Even Chief Josh Smith told WCTI News, “Anyone who doesn’t believe that the Jesus I pray to is real needs to reconsider.”

In the end, this victory belongs to the people of Snow Hill – residents who spoke up, leaders who humbled themselves to reconsider, and a community that sought God together for guidance and unity.

Commissioners who initially voted to dissolve the department – Lorrine Washington, Geraldine Shackleford, and Faye Daniels, showed commendable integrity by leading the motion to reverse course. That is servant leadership: prioritizing the public good over personal pride or politics.

Chief Josh Smith, whose steady, heartfelt advocacy never wavered, now has the opportunity to lead a revitalized department into a stronger future.

This moment should not only be celebrated but also studied. Snow Hill has been given a second chance. What the town’s citizens do with it profoundly matters.

Here are some vital lessons worth remembering.

First, public safety is never optional. It is foundational. Any future debate must begin with this principle firmly in place.

Second, community engagement works. When citizens speak with respect and clarity, and leaders respond with humility and sagacity, good governance prevails.

Third, change remains possible. Preserving the police department doesn’t mean rejecting any needed reforms. It opens the door to a new spirit of collaboration, one that improves coverage, accountability, and trust between officers and citizens alike.

Snow Hill’s future is not behind it. I still believe in that little town that gave me so much. Its path forward is bright and strong as ever – even stronger.

Citizens and leaders should move forward, not as fractured factions but as neighbors bound by love for their town and a renewed commitment to its well-being. The events of the past week have been a powerful reminder that our blessed system of government still works whenever people care enough to engage and when leaders care enough to listen.

Indeed, Snow Hill may now be on its way to becoming not only one of North Carolina’s most charming towns but also one of its safest.

God bless Snow Hill, my beloved hometown.