Pitt County Fair using volunteers after security firm fired
GREENVILLE, N.C. Sept 24 2022 The Pitt County Fair is down to a volunteer security force after firing a company it hired.
The fair confirmed to WITN News that Dem Boyz Security is no longer working at the fair. WITN first reported the private company was providing security on Tuesday.
Ken Ross said the firm was fired Wednesday after it was confirmed that it was not licensed by the state.
Ross said he was misled by Dem Boyz about whether it had a state license as a private security company.
The fair is now using a group of between 8 and 10 unarmed volunteers to provide security for the event which runs through Sunday. Ross said they will also use a walk-in metal detector that the fair purchased this year.
Ross admitted that Dem Boyz will be used tonight as volunteers. “They are working tonight because of all the trouble they caused me,” Ross said. “I’m not paying them a penny.”
When asked if he was comfortable with the company volunteering after he said they lied to him about being licensed, Ross said “yes” and added they will have American Legion members helping out as well.
Last year, the sheriff’s office used 30 off-duty deputies to keep the fair safe.
Security at the fair became an issue after the annual event was shut down more than a day early because of a large fight on that Saturday night and several guns were seen on the midway.
The sheriff’s office said they made an offer to provide beefed-up security this year but never heard anything back from the fair operator.
WITN
