BLACKDUCK — The Blackduck City Council agreed to disband the city's police force.
The Council unanimously moved to rescind an ordinance establishing the city's police force in favor of a contract with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.
Council member Laurie Hamilton made the motion during the Monday, June 8, meeting, adding she hated to see the Blackduck Police Department go.
“We can't just let it sit stagnant either, and it's kind of where we're at,” Hamilton said. “I loved having a [law enforcement] person. I loved it for the kids. I think it built a better community.”
The city had budgeted for a full-time police chief and a full-time patrol officer for years, but the positions had lately been filled only part-time by Beltrami County sheriff’s deputies. The Council hosted a public hearing on the pending decision in March, with a presentation from the sheriff’s office.
The Council discussed what terms they would like to see in the contract, the presence of the sheriff’s deputies in the schools and at the Blackduck branch of the Bemidji Area Boys & Girls Club, and the next steps for Blackduck’s owned police vehicles.
“My hope is that the sheriff's office would take ownership of them [the vehicles],” Blackduck City Administrator Christina Regas said, noting they could be rebranded for the north end deputy who would take on policing in Blackduck.
Blackduck is pursuing a contract for 40 hours a week of dedicated service, with eight hours each week dedicated to area schools. Contracting policing with the sheriff is anticipated to save the city between $25,000 to $40,000 each year.
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