The city of Hartford could abolish its police department due staffing challenges.
The Hartford City Commission this week scheduled a meeting for Monday, July 29 to discuss phasing out the department, but the meeting was later canceled.
City Manager Nicol Brown says the police department has had staffing issues for several years, and although the city has worked to increase pay and be more competitive, it still struggles with turnover and leadership issues. She says the city recently parted ways with its chief, and while it’s appointed an interim chief, the city is “at the beginning of a process to review our options.” Those include phasing out the Hartford Police Department and contracting police protection from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department.
At a meeting this spring, the city commission was told one “top end” deputy costs as much as $116,000 per year.
Brown says the possibility of hiring the sheriff’s department was going to be discussed at the special meeting on Monday. She apologized for “the poorly worded notice of this meeting,” adding the matter has been temporarily put on hold.
Brown says if the city commission decides to pursue a contract for police services with the county, residents would have the opportunity to vote on the issue.
