December
23, 2019
Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker, today, responded
to comments by Wake County Manager David Ellis and Wake County Board of
Commission Chair Greg Ford that would reverse the Sheriff’s plan to close
public access to the Wake County Firearms Training Center.
Last week, the Sheriff’s Office announced the
cancellation of the contract with Range Safety Management (RSM) LLC, effective
January 15, 2020, due to RSM’s lack of management profitability and intent to
provide additional training space for law enforcement agencies.
“While senior team members and I are surprised by
the response from our County partners, we do acknowledge that while it is not a
requirement to notify the County, we should have extended the courtesy to the
County staff advising them of the specific date of the contract’s
cancellation,” said Sheriff Baker.
“Similarly, the County should have extended me the
courtesy of responding to me regarding my decision, to cancel the contract.”
As stated in a letter provided to RSM LLC, dated
December 16, 2019, the decision to cancel the contract was based on numerous
issues of concern.
Financial Issues
- Upon review by County finance staff during the contract renewal period, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) was made aware of RSM’s continued pattern of increased expenses and decreased revenues, during the period of 2010 to 2017.
- RSM was contracted to received $250,000 from the WCSO budget, with an expectation to generate revenues to cover costs of the contract, while providing revenue to assist in the upkeep of the facility.
- An examination of financial records indicates that from January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017, point-of-sale revenues generated by RSM was only $220,278.75. An examination of financial records indicates January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, point-of-sale revenues generated by RSM was only $182,570.52.
- The actual costs of the contract had been exceeding the amount allocated to the contract for over seven (7) years (currently and while under contract with the previous administration), with the WCSO absorbing the overages each year, averaging over $200,000 per year.
- This information was presented in detail to County staff during the Fiscal Year 2021 Business Plan Meeting on October 11, 2019.
- Based on the October 22, 2019 email from County finance staff, offices and agencies were instructed on finding capacity for new needs in the existing budget with departments first looking at their base budgets to evaluate where resources can be realigned.
- In accordance with this directive, the WCSO decided that after an evaluation of the RSM contract it was determined it a was a financial liability to the office’s base budget.
Safety Issues
- On November 17, an RSM Range Safety instructor accidentally shot himself in the leg but failed to report the incident in a timely manner, and when it was reported false information was provided.
- WCSO alerted RSM officials on November 25, for a second time, for not adequately providing range safety officers in the facility, which showed another example of safety violations, therefore a breach of the contract with WCSO.
Contract Analysis
After a review of the
financial inconsistencies and safety concerns and lack of accountability,
transparency and consistency, the WCSO provided a letter to RSM operators
informing them of the cancellation of the contract, effective thirty days from
the date of the letter, December 16, 2019.
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