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Local News

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Village patrols may be restored in future
Millstream
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Village and law enforcement officials say they are hopeful the Hancock County Sheriff's Office can restore patrol hours in Van Buren and Arlington next year.

Because of reductions in manpower and money, the sheriff's office next month will halt its contracts to provide extra patrol hours in the two villages.

"After the first of the year when the dust settles, we may go back and take a look at it and see if we can restore one or two of those contracts and see what the workload is," said sheriff's Capt. Roger Treece.

Last week, Sheriff Michael Heldman announced his office would have to lay off seven employees on Dec. 13, and as a result, contracts for the extra village patrols would stop.

Sheriff Heldman also said his deputies would be responding to fewer types of calls. To report a civil issue, car-deer accident, or storm, mailbox or property damage, residents will have to come to the sheriff's office.

Also, 911 hang-ups and misdials will no longer be responded to, Heldman said.

With deputies responding to fewer calls, Treece said, the sheriff's office may have time to resume the village patrol contracts.

"I am a little concerned, but I think our residents will look out for each other and if the need comes, we will call the sheriff's office," said Van Buren Mayor Ed May.

Despite terminating the contracts, deputies will still be a presence in the villages and will continue regular patrols, Treece said.

While the villages pay extra for contracted patrols, Treece said the money goes into the county's general fund, which means the revenue is not necessarily deposited in the sheriff's budget.

Arlington has contracted with the sheriff's office for 21 years, according to village officials. Van Buren has been under contract since 2003, Treece said.

"That was just extra patrol and at this point, until they get more deputies, we are just doing what every other village is doing today," May said.

Both May and Arlington Mayor Ed Solt have indicated they would like to bring back the contracted patrols if time and finances allow.

"(The mayors) found by contracting for specific hours that it helps reduce vandalism. It has made an impact over the years," Treece said.

Arlington paid the county $2,400 a month to patrol the village during set hours, according to village officials. Treece said both patrol contracts were not to exceed 20 hours per week, but were often less than that.

Deputies patrolled Van Buren's streets between eight and 10 hours per week. The village paid $26 an hour to the county for a deputy to provide the extra enforcement, according to May.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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7 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
adam wrote:
concerned
“ i totally agree with you! when you call them nothing happens (unless you have a little bit of pot). I called police on a passed out drunk guy in his car. He was slumped at the wheel with it running on west sandusky and cory. This was at 5:30am at 7 he was still there car running and all. So my call went unnoticed. i Have some otherthings that could be said about this but my comments would be stricken from this post ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 3:21:12 PM
TG wrote:
Capt. Treece
“ Why don't you put your money where your mouth is Capt. Treece. Bring out those numbers. The correct ones. I bet you make almost 100.000.00 a year. Lets see what you make now, and what you made then. And besides you have a pay check, step aside and let ones with young families stay and you go. It's sad that command staff hides the truth and then believes their own lies to make themselves look good. ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 2:52:23 PM
james wrote:
buddies
“ Thats not the way we see it ,,if you retire and can and do ,,,move on,, We the people of this county do not approve of this practices
This would make room for new hires at the entry level rate giving a young person of this county a job saving the tax payers money
Just because Mr. heldmen did you guys a buddy favors does not mean we think its ok its not
Hoping for competitions in this office next time around
And im sure will save on liabity insurances when your all gone, and are you at work using the county computer to make your post
See your hard at work thanks
”
Friday, November 20, 2009 2:01:31 PM
one who knows wrote:
Capt Treece
“ Donna, for your information, the retire/rehires are actually a cost savings for the sheriff's office. The retirement they receive is money they put away for themselves during their tenure there and they rehire at a reduced pay rate and benefits are not paid on them. AND, I happen to know for a fact the there are 7 people who are getting laid off right before Christmas. Three from the jail and four from the road. AND, yes, there are two Lieutenants at the jail, but one of them is doing a Captain's job and only getting paid a Lieutenant's salary. Another savings for the Sheriff's Office. So, while you are sarcastically thanking our Sheriff, I suggest you take the time to find out the facts before you open your mouth. ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 9:00:00 AM
concerned wrote:
How about Drunk Drivers?
“ While taking my child to school one day this week I called to report a possible drunk driver. The older female dispatcher on the other end spent about 4-5 minutes harrassing me to get close enough to the irratic driver to give her the 30day tag number and a make & model on the car. I told her I didn't feel comfortable getting that close because my child was in the car. She didn't care. She insisted that she needed it. Then even though I was on a county road 313 she said she would pass my information on to State Highway Patrol. This dispatcher was rude inconsiderate and very much uncaring about the high school students I watched this car almost hit head on. I guess they aren't going to respond to drunk drivers anymore. Everyone be safe.

And I hope that she doesn't treat every caller this way. Seeing as how she never took my name I guess she'll never know what other public employee was on the other end of her rudeness.
 ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 8:01:02 AM
FB fan wrote:
Roger Treece
“ For your information, when a person retires and then rehires, it actually saves the county money in medical benefits and retirement. Please do some checking before badmouthing a situation you have no understanding of. ”
Friday, November 20, 2009 12:20:11 AM
Donna wrote:
Capt Treece
“ Just to let the public know, Treece is one of the 3-4 people at the Sheriff's office that is double dipping the system by retiring and then rehiring. And believe this, none of them are getting laid off. There are two Lt's in the jail alone, and that is just plain wasteful. And why should the villages have to pay extra when we all pay taxes for the sheriff already? Everyone should just go and buy their own protection {gun} since the daytime burglaries are on the rise in the county right now. Good job Mike. ”
Thursday, November 19, 2009 6:16:04 PM
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