Remarks to Town Council on Public Safety

Good afternoon.

The first responsibility of any government is to protect its people.

The tragic events at Coligny on July 4th reminded us that public safety can never be assumed. It must be intentionally led.

Public safety isn't just another line item in our budget. It should be the lens through which every budget decision is made.

I'm not here to debate the Sheriff's contract or the dedication of the deputies who serve our community. They have a difficult job, and they deserve our support and more.

I'm here to ask a different question. Where is the Town's strategic public safety plan?

We have strategic priorities for housing. We have strategic priorities for transportation. We have strategic priorities for parks, resiliency, and economic development, and more.

Why don't we have a strategic public safety plan with clear goals, measurable outcomes, and regular reporting to this Council and to the public?

If public safety truly is our highest priority, it should be reflected not only in our words, but in how we plan, how we measure success, and how we allocate our attention. It should also be a budget priority, but it's not.

The people of Hilton Head deserve to know that every major decision begins with one simple question: Will this make our community safer? If the answer is no, then perhaps it isn't the priority it should be.

As a resident, I don't hope the events of July 4th become the catalyst for making public safety the foundation of every decision this Council makes. I expect it, and I think every other resident does as well.