Wednesday, August 7, 2013

8-8-13 mayville council to consider sheriff's department taking over police duties

The City of Mayville is exploring the option of eliminating their police department and contracting with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services.  A press release from the city says in July, representatives from Mayville approached Dodge County Sheriff Pat Ninmann to provide a cost estimate for the Sheriff’s Department to provide full-time, around-the-clock law enforcement services for residents, if the City abolished its police department.  Mayor Jerry Moede says under Sheriff Ninmann’s proposal, the level of service provided by the Sheriff’s Department would be nearly identical to the level of service presently provided, and would save the city approximately 150 to 250 thousand dollars a year.  Moede says since 2010, the City has been negotiating with the police union on a new contract, but to no avail.  Moede says while other departments have seen their budgets cut or frozen, the police union has not submitted a proposal that helps the City achieve any measurable cost savings.  Mayville’s unionized officers have decided not to comment on the matter at this time.  But Police Chief Chris MacNeill says his officers have the knowledge and experience of policing a municipality and have deep ties to Mayville. While Mayville could see significant cost savings by contracting with the Sheriff’s Office, Moede concedes the city could lose out on other benefits of having its own police force.  The Mayville City Council will discuss the proposal at a special common council meeting August 12th.

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