Faced with state aid cuts, the City of Elko New Market recently voted to disband its police department, reports KARE 11. The police department of two full-time officers and six part-time officers will be replaced by a contract with the Scout County Sheriff, which is currently in negotiations. The Elko New Market city administrator estimates that eliminating the city’s police department will result in a net savings of only $15,000 annually under current service levels.
With considerable money already invested in building up the police department to its current levels, it’s disheartening to see the city’s force take the fall for LGA cuts, especially when it is projected that the city will grow in the upcoming years. Reinstating the city’s police department will become increasingly difficult and expensive over the years, and will cost the city in slower response times to emergencies and decreased police presence at community events and in schools. Minnesotans are deserving of equal public safety no matter what part of the state they live in, and that is what LGA ensures.
April 16th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
[...] ThankLGA.org: Police department dissolves in light of LGA cuts [...]