Fort Gay, West Virginia – The Fort Gay Police Department announced Tuesday that a Michigan‑based nonprofit, Just One More, has provided a $15,000 donation to support the department’s newly formed Crimes‑Against‑Children Task Force. The contribution is intended to fund equipment and resources that will enhance investigations and improve officer safety.
Local need drives outside support
Police Chief Evan Wilson explained that the task force was created after months of collaborative investigations targeting offenses against children. “Being in West Virginia and talking with these offenders, they had this perception that we’re a rural area, that there’s a lack of law enforcement,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, they feel comfortable that they can come here and commit these terrible acts.”
Wilson emphasized that the problem is real and present in Fort Gay and the surrounding region. “This is a problem that is in our state, it’s in our city and it’s something that we’re not going to tolerate,” he added.
Operations and arrests
In recent months, Fort Gay officers have partnered with Veterans for Child Rescue on three separate operations – two in Fort Gay and one in neighboring McDowell County. Those sweeps resulted in multiple arrests and the issuance of felony warrants, prompting the department to formalize its efforts through the task force.
Nonprofit partner steps in
Just One More’s founder, Mike Bailey, said his organization learned of the department’s work through media coverage and an analyst who urged him to visit Fort Gay. “My analyst said, ‘Mike, this is a set of guys who are really doing beautiful, the Lord’s work, and we want you to go down there and see how you can help them,’” Bailey recalled.
Bailey described the conditions he witnessed as “heartbreaking,” noting that officers lack the equipment needed to protect themselves and to isolate and track perpetrators. “They literally do not have the equipment they need to protect themselves,” he said. “As we bring this equipment and funding, they can become super highly efficient in what they do.”
How the donation will be used
The $15,000 will be allocated toward future investigations, including the purchase of protective gear, surveillance tools, and other resources that will give the task force a tactical advantage. “This is going to give us the advantage that we’ve needed,” Chief Wilson said.
Bailey framed the partnership as a “force multiplier,” adding that the combination of the department’s existing willpower and the new equipment could dramatically increase the task force’s impact. “Given what they’ve accomplished already, coupled with the force multipliers that we can bring for equipment, there’s no telling how much we can accomplish, but it’s going to be powerful,” he said.
Community implications
The donation underscores the importance of community‑driven support for public‑safety initiatives, especially in rural areas where resources are often limited. By bolstering the Crimes‑Against‑Children Task Force, Fort Gay hopes to deter offenders, protect vulnerable children, and reassure residents that law‑enforcement presence is strong and proactive.
Local leaders and faith‑based groups have praised the collaboration, noting that it aligns with shared values of protecting families and upholding the sanctity of childhood. The task force’s continued work will be closely watched by neighboring jurisdictions that face similar challenges.
Original reporting: WCHS Eyewitness News Charleston (local) — read the source article.
