Neighbors press county on elopement, EMS and deputy coverage after proposed crisis homes are pitched

Residents at the July 28 Isle of Wight Planning Commission hearing repeatedly raised public safety concerns about siting crisis therapeutic homes on Yellowhammer Road. Multiple speakers cited elopement incidents and emergency call logs from other CSB‑operated facilities and asked how the county's volunteer‑based fire and EMS and small patrol force would respond to increased ECO/TDO calls.

"We have 4 patrol deputies with 1 supervisor to cover 363 square miles," resident Travis Pierce said, arguing that existing law‑enforcement and EMS staffing levels create vulnerabilities if the county approves a rural CTH that could generate emergency calls. Neighbors also pointed to reported incidents at Tidewater Cove, including missing persons, assaults and licensing violations, as reasons to demand clearer operational protocols and data from the applicant.

Applicant Brandon Rogers acknowledged some incidents at other sites and described elopement mitigation protocols that he said include staff following individuals that leave a site and contacting law enforcement. He also emphasized that short‑term stays are clinically driven and that staff would flex to a 1:1 ratio when needed. Still, commissioners asked staff to verify incident counts, clarify who would be dispatched and asked for a transport time analysis to the nearest hospitals.