Plymouth discusses Orfordville police patrol
PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP — Orfordville police could provide patrol in Plymouth Township focused on speeders if initial talks end in an intergovernmental agreement.
Plymouth Chairman Larry Harding has started the discussion with Orfordville Police Chief Dave Wickstrum and the village’s police commission to extend patrol into the township.
“We’re pretty small, but I’m sure we could make it work,” the chief said.
Plymouth residents at the town’s last annual meeting raised concerns about the number of speeders, Harding said.
“We don’t see the (Rock County sheriff’s) deputies out here much. There’s only so many deputies to go around,” he said.
An agreement with Orfordville could provide enforcement in the whole township, particularly in problem areas such as Plymouth Church Road, County H and stop signs in Hanover, he said.
An intergovernmental agreement would allow tickets to be processed through Orfordville municipal court.
Other municipalities have similar contracts, and Harding provided the police committee last week with copies.
Harding said it would be win-win for both partners because the police department could use the additional revenue.
“We’re almost to a point where just to exist … (we need to) find some ways to make some revenue,” Wickstrum said.
The department faces an $8,000 expense for radio equipment to meet the county’s technology upgrade next year.
“How do we make the money to do that? That’s the question,” Wickstrum said.
The department provides about half-time coverage in the village with two full-time officers and three part-timers. Wickstrum has applied for a grant that would pay for another officer, which would help with the additional coverage area.
Officials have not yet crunched the numbers on what it would cost for such an agreement.
Jul 25, 2011 at 10:32 p.m.
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Brodhead and Milton have alot of officers around the clock and burlaries are still a problem so you can't sell that idea. If the smaller towns joined forces with the county they could have more officers and better coverage. So Truecitizen, if the one deputy on call in Orfordville is in Hanover, who's stopping burlaries, bank robberies and accidents in Orfordville? Footville doesn't seem to have a rash of problems like Brodhead and Milton so explain that?
Jul 23, 2011 at 5 p.m.
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OMG!! It's about response times! I live out here and shutter the thought of bumble bee tom responding to an emergency at my house. I see the sheriffs drive by every day and I know they are fast, well equipped, and properly trained vs. the ORF "police". they aren't even on shift 24 hrs a day!!!!
Jul 22, 2011 at 11:57 a.m.
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OnlyinAmerica...Deputies don't even have the time or manpower to patrol their areas (barely). Orfordville assists deputies with numerous police-calls each year. People just don't know how it works. It always sounds good to consolidate, but what if your loved one needs help and the reduced staff was-not there. The public has no idea how reduced manpower is already. But bigger venues take credit as though it doesn't happen that way.
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This idea being proposed above, is an excellent one. It is about time. The entire soutwest quadrant of Rock County sees only one deputy and one Orfordville Police Officer on at a time. Look at all the burglaries, bank robbery, and accidents etc which have been happening over the last few years. I can't believe there isn't even more coverage being considered.
Jul 22, 2011 at 9:34 a.m.
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Have Brodhead do it...
They have WAY TOO MANY police...
Jul 22, 2011 at 1:05 a.m.
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Onlyinamerica. The little departments are an invaluable resource to those working in the bigger departments. If a deputy is trying to find out information about someone, the best place to get that information is from a local officer who knows everyone. I think the quality of service would go down having random deputies assigned to Orfordville instead of dedicated local officers.
Jul 22, 2011 at 12:36 a.m.
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Orfordville should disband it's department and contract with the county to save money. It seems to work well in other towns, so why spend so much on cars, equipment, salaries, insurance and benefits when a fraction of that can provide the same service.
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