Monday, January 25, 2010

Growing Movement To Disband Police Departments

In response to Hoschton Georgia Dissolves Police Department http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot. ... olice.html I received an email from "Adam" who writes ..

Mish

The city of Pewaukee, Wisconsin voted to do the same towards the end of 2009. As of the new year, the department was eliminated. Police protection is now handled by the Waukesha country sheriff's department where the majority of the old officers now work. Of course, the union is suing to reverse the vote of the people.

Please consider Waukesha Sheriff Takes Over in Pewaukee http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/80471107.html

The sign at the city hall building still reads the City of Pewaukee Police department but Friday there was a new sheriff in town...quite literally.

"11 pm on December 31st Waukesha County took over," said Lt. Neil Dussault with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. But Dussault says if you weren't paying attention in Pewaukee, you may not have known about the take over.

The squad cars, at least for now, still read Pewaukee Police, but driving them are deputies dressed in their brown uniforms with new Pewaukee arm patches.

The city voted in November to close the police department and then contract with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. Officials claim it will save the city around $1 million. 26 officers lost their jobs with Waukesha County hiring 16 of them.

The union filed a lawsuit to reverse the takeover and union attorney Jim Palmer believes there is a real chance a judge could rule in the union's favor in the coming months. "We wouldn't be doing this if there wasn't a real chance," said Palmer.

Either way, the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department says it is working hard to change the people's minds.

"Detectives and officers will be meeting with businesses depending on service calls to see what their needs are, if they want anything special," said Dussault.

Where Else?

This got me wondering where else is this happening?

In growing voter anger over rising taxes and high union costs, numerous small towns are voting to disband their city police departments and contract with the sheriffs department instead.

Jan 09, 2008 Gaston South Carolina

Gaston Police Department disbanded http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7599211

If you called the Gaston Police Department Wednesday you heard a strange message. "Yeah, this is Chief Crider Gaston Police Department. Do not leave any messages. As of right now council has disbanded the police department. We are laid off until further notice. Do not leave a message. They won't be checked for the next couple of weeks. Thank you, it's been fun working here. Bye."

The entire force shut down because Gaston doesn't have the money to pay the officers.

The town is now under investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division, the IRS and the State Ethics Commission for its financial problems, including some big spending by employees.

Michael Gantt says, "I own four businesses in this community. If something happens now we're going to have to rely on the Sheriff's Department. We do have a fantastic one in Lexington County; however, they're spread thin like anybody else."

October 7, 2009 Mora City Minnesota: Kanabec County Times: City council votes to disband P.D. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_i ... 3&comments

The Mora City Council ended months of debate and discussion by voting 3-2 Tuesday afternoon to disband the city’s police department and contract with the Kanabec County Sheriff’s Office for administration of law enforcement services.

Mora Mayor Greg Ardner, Councilwoman Beth Hallin and Councilman Dave Chmiel voted in favor of the move. Preliminary time lines have the sheriff taking over law enforcement inside the City of Mora effective Jan. 1, 2010.

“I value people’s opinions, but I see this strictly as a fiscal matter,â€