Local History: Unsolved murder helped spark law enforcement reform in Iredell County

BY SHELLIE TAYLOR

They say every cloud has a silver lining. In unsolved murder investigations, it can be difficult to find something positive to take away from months of hard work.

In the murder investigation of Lue Cree Overcash Westmoreland, which I discussed in my last two columns, the silver lining was that the case sparked a discussion that led to improvements in law enforcement in Iredell County. In 1937, it was common knowledge that sheriff’s deputies did not get paid a salary for their work. They were paid on a fee-based system. When fines or court fees were paid following an arrest or citation, the officer received a commission. It was noted in the Statesville Record that during the investigation of the Westmoreland murder, deputies made several trips using their own cars and even took time off from their paying jobs to do volunteer work for the sheriff’s office. Today, we would be appalled that such a dangerous job didn’t provide a salary. In 1937 that was the reality.

The role of sheriff has changed over time, but its history is deeply rooted in English heritage. In Medieval England, sheriffs were leaders of towns, responsible for keeping law and order, overseeing court proceedings, mediating resident disputes, and even playing a role in land transactions. At one point in history, the sheriff was an appointed position. In colonial North Carolina, the sheriff was appointed by the governor of the territory by way of the local court. Today, our sheriffs are elected by the residents of the county they serve.

Keep in mind that in 1937, Iredell County was only three years removed from its greatest law enforcement tragedy. Sheriff Godfrey Kimball died while chasing a dangerous outlaw in 1934, and the sheriff’s memorial service was the biggest funerary event that the county in at least 25 years. Prior to Kimball’s term as sheriff, police officers were expected to fill multiple roles, including that of firefighter in the 1920s. In 1941, the Landmark reported that officers were working seven days a week. The board of alderman voted to allow officers to take half-days in the summer months (June-September).

Law enforcement pay and benefits did not improve drastically until the 1970 election. During the election, it was reported that Iredell County only had 18 salaried officers to serve the county (excluding the cities of Statesville and Mooresville). At the time, government experts recommended one officer per 1,000 residents. In 1970, Iredell had about one officer per 2,300 residents. The sheriff’s office was also one of the few departments whose employees spanned law enforcement, the court system, and the jails. Bailiffs were responsible for keeping the courts safe while jailers were responsible for keeping the peace in the detention facilities. These latter two roles still exist within the department today.

In 1973, The Record & Landmark reported that Sen. Thomas Strickland from Wayne County conducted a survey of police departments across the state in order to make improvements to professional law enforcement. “The badge [an officer] wears or the gun he carries doesn’t make much difference if the man himself is unqualified, untrained, underpaid, and unappreciated by the people whose lives and property it is his responsibility to protect,” Strickland said. His survey found that some officers were being paid as low as $3,600 per year, which today would equate to a little over $24,000. Strickland was instrumental in passing legislation that helped establish minimum standards for hiring and training officers, specifically at the local level.

As the population in Iredell County has expanded over the years, so has the needs of the community in regards to its law enforcement. Today’s sheriff’s office includes specialized departments such as the Special Victims Unit (sexual assault and domestic violence cases), Vice/Narcotics (drugs and alcohol violations), Lake Enforcement Unit (one of a five-agency partnership to keep the waters of Lake Norman safe), and many more. Every school in the county has at least one SRO (school resource officer) and there are over a dozen active K-9 units whose training includes tracking and narcotics detection. This past summer, the sheriff’s office participated in over 35 outreach programs and festivals in the county. Efforts continue to be made for law enforcement to bridge the gap between officers and the communities they serve.

Although the case of Lue Cree Westmoreland’s murder was never solved, it brought to light the negative environment in which law enforcement officers worked. The case highlighted the sheriff’s department’s flaws and motivated future sheriffs to find solutions. As it is with most social reforms, this did not happen overnight. It took time. The law enforcement and justice system is still not perfect today, but they have evolved over the last century to make our communities better and safer.

Shellie Taylor is the Local History Program Specialist at the Iredell County Public Library. She can be contacted at michelle.taylor@co.iredell.nc.us or 704.878.3090, Ext. 8801.