Copsolidation

[XLFD]

This article was on the front page of the Muskegon Chronicle just yesterday:

 

MUSKEGON — Law enforcement has been the “third rail” of local government consolidation.

Like the electrically-charged subway track “third rail” that can be deadly when touched, most local elected officials have not wanted to commit political suicide by even getting near the police consolidation issue.

Municipal leaders have not hesitated to explore consolidating building inspections, water systems and even fire departments.

But, last on the agenda has been the most difficult task of combining police departments — those agencies that evoke strong emotional support from citizens wanting to keep their community names on the sides of the patrol cars protecting their neighborhoods.

For communities like Muskegon, police consolidation could be in play this year.

Forces outside of Muskegon County appear to be aligning to tackle service consolidations — or at least new cooperative measures — when it comes to the array of law enforcement agencies from the Michigan State Police, to the county sheriff offices and the various city and township police departments. The conversation will revolve around saving taxpayer money while preserving safe streets at a time of fiscal crisis for the state of Michigan, its counties, cities and townships.

These efforts fall in line with new Gov. Rick Snyder, who before taking the oath of office last weekend, established a law enforcement advisory panel.

The lakeshore has a seat at the head of the table as Ottawa County Sheriff Gary Rosema was appointed chairman of the group that includes new Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, the head of the Michigan State Police, Detroit's police chief, the Ingahm County prosecutor and police union officials among others.

“I appreciate the fact that the new governor is looking at public safety and service delivery,” Rosema said. “Law enforcement is economically challenged. This committee will look at how assets are best utilized.”

Snyder’s law enforcement advisory panel will get going later in the month when Rosema said he will meet with the governor’s chief of staff to map out a work plan and timetable for making recommendations to state leaders.

Maybe more instructive to Muskegon County communities might be what has been developing in Oakland County, just north of Detroit.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department has entered an agreement with the city of Pontiac for the delivery of police services. The sheriff’s deputies would replace the city’s police department at a cost savings to the city of a reported $2 million...

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/01/new_michigan_g...

 

A local case in point is the town of Hart.  This village of under 2000 people houses the Hart Police Department, the Oceana County Sheriff's Department, and the Hart Post of the Michigan State Police.  Are three police jurisdictions needed in that village?  Check out the crime rate of Hart, and then compare it with the sleepy village of Pentwater nearby which has no such police presence.  Consolidation?

Ludington has no state troopers, but spends about $1.35 million a year on their police department.  The Mason County Sheriff Department, in the center of Ludington city spends about $1.45 million on their operations.  Over 30 LEOs, each making a base salary of over $50,000.  Is there room for a meaningful consolidation in Ludington?

[Sweater Cows!]

Pentwater has a police dept. I flipped off the cheif down there about 10 years ago. LOL

 

I was smoking a cig walking down the street with a group of kids my age and some guy in regular old guy clothes calls over to me am I old enough, I was about 23 at the time. I turned around and gave him the bird. hehe...got searched down for that one...But dude was in khaki's and a button down. the PWtr kids I was with knew who it was and about had a heart attack, I had no clue, just thought it was some old guy being a dick.

[Max]

"I had no clue, just thought it was some old guy being a dick."

It sounds like it was some old guy being a dick.

[XLFD]

I was aware that Pentwater had its own PD, Lando, its just that they don't have the sheriff and state police based also in their neck o' the woods, thus a reduced presence. 

Nice to see you found one there without really looking.  The Chief going undercover, and cracking some skull. 

I remember about 6 years back calling the LPD on a group of kids 14-16 y.o. smoking some wacky tobacky on the sidewalk in front of my residence.  But by the time they responded, they had finished their toking and had only regular cigarettes showing.  They just dispersed them and told me that they really couldn't do nothing more. 

These are the same guys who stopped me for crossing a clear intersection safely on my bicycle, past a stop sign that was placed 20 ft. past the crosswalk with no traffic control order backing it up, and then took issue when I exposed their negligence.  Darn it, you got me started.

[Edie Lindsey]

Your run-together title made me think of a new stat for a place.  The amount of police in your town is its 'copulation'.

The copulation in Ludington should be cut, but not drastically.  I seriously don't see what keeps them busy this time of year. 

[Max]

I wouldn't be opposed to some consolidation, as long as it is into the Sheriff's Dept.

[XLFD]

I think thats what has been tried and is the usual way.  Township consolidated into City consolidated into County.  Each position that would be knocked down would save the city/county around $80,000 per year in salary and fringes. 

I hope the new consolidation task force that looks into this has some sort of formula/process for deciding what to do that's as free as much as possible from politics, so each area is looked at, and treated, equally.

[Max]

Well at the Sheriff is directly accountable to the people.

[XLFD]

Great point, Max.  Here in this area, Sheriff Fiers needs to be fairly evaluated by the people and elected in. 

LPD Chief Barnett, however, is appointed and directly accountable to the City Manager who is in turn appointed and directly accountable to the City Council.  Of which each citizen can vote for one of seven, plus the at-large councilor.  Two layers of insulation, both of which many here have very little faith in.

[Willy]

Good points Max and XLFD.

[Max]

Yes I am not a great fan of police departments in general for that very reason.