MEXICO — Selectman Byron Ouellette wants to know how much the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office would charge to provide 24/7 coverage for the town. He said the cost to operate the Mexico Police Department is too high.
Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant is working on the figures, and hopes to have them finished within the next day or so, he said.
Mexico Police Chief James Theriault said he believes contracting police coverage would not be in the best interest of the town because the local police can provide quick responses and have vast knowledge of the residents.
There is also a preliminary proposal by the town of Rumford to merge the Rumford and Mexico police departments.
Mexico Board of Selectmen Chairman Barbara Laramee said all the impending police cost figures are meant simply to help the board prepare its 2011-12 budget.
“We’re just getting information. There may not be anything we do for years,” she said Tuesday afternoon.
Gallant said Tuesday afternoon that he believes the county could cover Mexico, but would have to hire at least four additional deputies.
“This is a big step (for Mexico). This is just a proposal,” Gallant said.
The Mexico Police Department operates a five-man staff, including one officer who is paid through a U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Service grant. The current fiscal year’s operating budget, including the fifth officer, and benefits for all officers, is about $365,000, Theriault said. This is year two of three years of the COPS grant. The town would be responsible to fund a fifth officer for one additional year after the grant runs out in fiscal year 2012-13.
Rumford Town Manager Carlo Puiia said he and Rumford police Chief Stacy Carter submitted a preliminary proposal to Mexico because selectmen want to continue to work toward regionalization.
“This is very preliminary and is made under the premise that Chief Theriault was to retire,” Puiia said.
Theriault said he does not plan to retire this year.
Under the Rumford proposal, the number of officers for the combined towns would go from 18 to 16, and the number of total vehicles would drop as well. Puiia said when and if a merged Rumford/Mexico police department was up and running, Dixfield would then be looked at for joining the merger.
Ouellette, who advocates for county coverage, said he doesn’t like the idea of merging with Rumford.
“It’s too rich of a town,” he said, “with higher pay and more benefits.”
Mexico Town Manager John Madigan said he has not yet analyzed Rumford’s proposal.
“There’s nothing discussed, nothing proposed (by the Mexico board),” he said.
Theriault said his town looked into contracting for county police coverage about 15 years ago, but those discussions ended with no agreement.
“(As a separate police department) the town has control and owns all the equipment. We give 24-hour coverage, we’re personal with the citizens of Mexico and we’re there within minutes of a call,” he said.
If a merger should occur, he said he’d rather it be with Dixfield, Rumford or both.
“These people are more familiar with Mexico citizens and any crime in the area,” Theriault said. “My biggest concern about county coverage is what will happen to my officers? I can retire, but they are all young.”
Ouellette plans to bring the figures offered by Gallant to the Jan. 25 Mexico selectmen’s meeting. If the figures are favorable and the board agrees, he hopes to present a plan to voters at the June town meeting.
If the county should assume coverage of Mexico, it would be only the second town contracting with the county, Gallant said. Although county deputies cover towns without their own police departments, and provide contracted coverage for several areas during specified times of the year, only Bethel holds a contract with the county.
The Bethel Police Department dissolved six months ago in favor of county coverage.
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