Municipalities meet for the third time
By:Chris Karmiol
CHESTERFIELD Discussions between five municipalities on whether to consolidate their police departments continued this week as Chesterfield, Springfield, Mansfield, North Hanover and New Hanover met for the third time.
Although no decision was made at the meeting Monday night, the towns, which cover an area of 100 square miles, agreed that they should pass resolutions to conduct surveys of police-related data, which will better help to determine feasibility of a merger. Representatives from the state Division of Criminal Justice attended the meeting to offer survey guidelines.
"We decided we would continue to gather information in order to make an informed decision," explained Chesterfield Mayor Larry Durr. "There’s a great deal of work that has to be done."
Some of that work, according to Mayor Durr, includes figuring out how a regional police department would be funded and staffed and how calls would be answered.
"Even though this is our third meeting, we’re still in the very early stages," Mayor Durr said. "At this point we’re not spending any money, we’re spending time."
The mayor said that state officials will not make any recommendations on the merger, but rather analyze results of the survey. The towns’ various police departments will collect data for the report.
Springfield Police Chief Kenneth Gerber said that a police merger is a good idea, but agreed that in these early stages a lot of work still needs to be done to decide for sure.
Mansfield Police Chief James Humble, who could not attend the meeting due to personal reasons, said the idea has as many drawbacks as it does benefits.
"Personally I think it would cost the townships more money to regionalize than if they were paying their own tabs," Chief Humble said. "But everything needs a chance to work."
Chief Humble pointed out that questions such as whether the departments would keep their own locations or centrally locate, and the costs associated with building a new police must be addressed.
New uniforms he said, a major police expense, are also a concern, as well as questions such as who would be police commissioner and who would be the chief.
Chief Humble said he would be happy to support the plan if these issues are worked out.
"I would like to see things work," he said. "If things are better for the people and safer for the officers I’m all for it."
The municipalities will continue their study and meet several more times before making a decision on merging.
"It’s not going to happen tomorrow if it happens at all," said Mayor Durr.