ST. PARIS, Champaign County — Community members are angry and disappointed after the St. Paris Village Council voted to get rid of their police department Monday night.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, community members are wondering how long it will take first responders to arrive during an emergency.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Therapy donkey in ICU after being attacked by dogs in Greene Co.
- 3 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin
- 16-year-old boy killed in accidental shooting while taking social media videos with gun
The Village of St. Paris Mayor Susan Price proposed that the village dissolve its police department and enter a community policing plan with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office in November.
Village leaders said this plan would help them save money.
Over a month later, a decision has been made.
“They’re not listening the people want the police, and they don’t care,” St. Paris resident Linda Wright said.
Council members were tied three to three on the vote, forcing Mayor Price to make the final decision.
Ultimately, the council voted to get rid of the police department.
Wright was one of the many community members who didn’t think this decision was fair.
“We were hoping that it wasn’t going to be this, because at the last meeting, they decided not to. There were too many people that said no,” Linda said.
News Center 7 talked to Mayor Price about her decision.
She said money forced the village to start talking about the police department’s future.
The village spent over $400,000 on the police department this year, according to Price.
“The police department is anywhere between 45% to 55% of our general fund,” she said.
Price said the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office responded to about 950 calls in St. Paris last year.
Between October and the first part of December, the sheriff’s office responded to about 100 calls.
“They’re all great guys, but there’s not enough. There’s not enough to cover all of Champaign County, and there’s not enough to cover St. Paris,” resident John Wright said.
Community members said they would start a petition after the decision was made.
“That’s what America is all about. People vote, not them, the people. They’re representing us,” Linda said.
As previously reported by News Center 7, the village put police chief Eric Smith on leave over the summer and the department’s only officer quit in September.
News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]