Two district attorneys would prosecute Gastonia crimes, two would focus on crimes in small towns, and two would focus on crimes in other areas patrolled by Gaston County Police. This could lead to more effective prosecutions, Cloninger said, by developing better working relationships between district attorneys and officers. Cloninger said his prosecutors would strive to keep officers from spending wasted time in court. Police commonly complain they have to wait in courtrooms several hours, presumably to testify against people they arrested. They often wind up not testifying because the person pleads guilty or the case gets postponed.
Most officers spend part of one day in court each month.
Lands says the realities of the court system, such as surprise absences by defendants and witnesses, make it difficult to tell officers when they're needed in court. Lands acknowledges ill feelings toward him among many police officers. As the DA, my position will have to be to evaluate cases to bring and at times to evaluate whether to bring charges against officers. Cloninger also wants to increase the hours residents can be guaranteed to speak to a prosecutor. Mondays through Thursdays.