GALESBURG, Mich. (WOOD) — Galesburg is losing its police force.

During a special meeting Thursday night, the council voted unanimously to disband the Galesburg Police Department.

Galesburg Police Chief, Jeff Heppler
Photo: A still image of former Galesburg Police Chief Jeff Heppler from 2015 file footage.

The decision comes a month after the city council voted 4-3 to fire its police chief, Jeff Heppler. The city appointed its lone patrol officer to serve as interim chief.

Mayor Carl Newton tells 24 Hour News 8 Galesburg will contract the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office for policing services.

Hear more from the mayor and Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller on 24 Hour News 8 at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m .

http://woodtv.com/2018/01/12/galesburg-votes-to-disband-police-force/

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Shouldn't Ludington City Police be next?

Ludington would be stuck with the Mason County Sheriff if that happened. As it is now both the City police and Sheriff dept. share responsibility together enforcing the law within the City limits.

The size of Ludington's police department rivals the size of the sheriff's office when you don't factor in the jail staff.  The abolishment of the LPD is not going to happen any time soon, however, the topic of consolidation with the sheriff's office should not ever be taken off the table, and with Sheriff Cole's recent request for five more officers this may be the time to consider it strongly as a concession to the already-overburdened taxpayer wallets.

Galesburg is a small community around 50% bigger than Scottville.  I would suggest that any considerations by the county commissioners and voters that would add more manpower to the county sheriff come with the consideration of whether financially strapped Scottville would be best served without the nearly $200,000 of a part-time police force.

LPD = $2.3 Million, MCSO = over $3 Million, over $5 Million simply for police in Mason County. You talk about over-burdening costs? I think it's ridiculous!!! The staffs on both could be cut in half, and so could their paychecks, without any furthering of serious crime. But, the courthouse fines and costs might go way down, just too bad isn't it? Most police nowadays want extremely high union pay, and aren't that concerned about being a servant of the people, just their own greed.

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