About a month ago, the West Point Police Department hired new police chief Donald Britt after running the agency for eight months without one.

Former police chief Tony Bailey left his position in September, leaving a void for the department. It’s hard to imagine any department managing to go that long without a chief, but the WPPD has managed and now has someone in that role.  Unfortunately, the department is also dealing with a shortage of officers. West Point is short of at least two officers, leaving the police department needing assistance from outside agencies.

The Troup County Sheriff’s Office has worked with the WPPD and will provide two deputies to help handle the need. The sheriff’s office is fully staffed and the deputies will technically be not giving up shifts at the TCSO. It’ll be the equivalent of working extra patrol at a grocery store or the movie theater. The situation in West Point is less than ideal — and is likely to be alleviated in the next month or so — but it’s great that the TCSO has the ability to help out meanwhile.