Law enforcement, by nature, is largely reactive. HRPD patrols the neighborhood—reportedly twice a day—and that’s appreciated. But does that prevent crime entirely? No. It doesn’t create a protected bubble.

Would OCSO patrol the same way? Maybe, maybe not. But based on direct conversations with the Sheriff—and residents currently served by OCSO—the expectation is clear: they provide the same level of service delivered to all county taxpayers, and those residents are not expressing dissatisfaction.

What we are seeing from our Town Council members’ messaging, however, leans heavily on fear-based arguments and scare tactics—suggesting criminals will exploit response times or that peace of mind disappears without HRPD. That deserves scrutiny.

Let’s look at this analytically:

• Capabilities: OCSO is a larger, full-service agency with multiple divisions (operations, investigations, admin, and special units such as SWAT, Crime Scene, Civil Emergency, dive, drones, etc.) and command staff. HRPD is a smaller department with patrol officers, limited investigative capacity, and command staff.

• Response proximity: HRPD is ~3.9 miles away; OCSO’s Sneads Ferry substation is ~8 miles. But real-world response depends on where officers are at that moment—not just station distance.

• Prevention vs. reaction: Recent incidents—like thefts or the bus stop situation—occurred despite HRPD coverage. That’s not criticism; it reflects the reactive nature of policing. The real question is: Would OCSO have responded? Evidence suggests yes—recent large-scale responses (like the missing child incident) show they mobilize quickly when needed.

• Mutual Aid: The HRPD and OCSO maintain mutual aid and collaborative relationships, typical of law enforcement agencies in NC. The HRPD chief has previously stated in town hall meetings that HRPD responds to areas outside HR in emergency circumstances. 

• Central Dispatch: Both OCSO and HRPD are dispatched through the Onslow County Communications Center. All emergency calls are received, prioritized and dispatched appropriately, based on National Protocol Standards.

• policescorecard.org: OCSO - 50%, HRPD 46%

• Hampstead: Our southern neighbor. Unincorporated and policed by Pender County SO. Are property values decreasing? Businesses not moving in? Crime rates higher? You decide, but NO.

We also checked with residents of local communities in Sneads Ferry—served by OCSO—with no reported dissatisfaction with OCSO. And they didn’t have multiple residents’ belongings stolen from vehicles, further reinforcing that there are no guarantees when it comes to policing. 

So it comes back to one core question:

Is HRPD providing Summerhouse with 34% more value in service and capability than OCSO would?

Because that’s effectively what we’re paying in additional town taxes. Maybe consider a higher percentage since it is a duplicative service, and we already pay for OCSO in county taxes. Maybe 100%?

And that question cannot be asked or answered in isolation. Law enforcement is just one part of the broader service picture—and several other critical services would not change with de-annexation. In the case of Fire Services, it is equally important and could improve for SH. 

If anything, the expectation should be greater than 34% added value to justify the cost.  Our councilman claims HRPD is “priceless,” but at a real cost of $1,202,888.68. What do you think?