By Chris Vetter
The Chief-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
ELK MOUND, Wis. — Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes sees a fantastic worth within the village of Elk Mound having its personal police division. Hakes served because the part-time Elk Mound police chief from 2013 to 2017, working 20 hours per week there whereas additionally working full time as a Lake Hallie officer.
The Elk Mound Public Security Committee voted unanimously Friday on a advice to disband the police division, they usually despatched the proposal to the Elk Mound Village Board for consideration. The village would as a substitute contract with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Workplace for native legislation enforcement.
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Hakes believes the plan is a mistake.
“I believe it’s essential to take care of and set up a village presence,” Hakes informed the Chief-Telegram on Monday. “You wish to have a neighborhood face, and also you’ll have faster response occasions. And folks get to know the (officers).”
Hakes mentioned a neighborhood officer can deal with small issues that don’t rise to the extent of an arrest. Hakes mentioned the Elk Mound officers implement native ordinances. Hakes famous that in his 4 years as chief, he lived in Elk Mound , and it was priceless to have his presence within the village, even when he was off obligation. The village ultimately made the chief place a full-time job, however Hakes left to take a full-time job in Chetek .
Whereas Hakes thinks it’s a nasty concept to shut the police division, he famous that New Auburn used to have its personal sworn officer, however the village now has a contract with the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Division to supply protection, and he contends that relationship has labored effectively.
Elk Mound resident Brandon Smith has lived within the village since 1993, and he believes it’s essential to have the police presence.
“I’ve by no means actually identified it to not have a police chief. I don’t need my children to develop up right here and never have a well-recognized face,” Smith mentioned Monday. “I wish to see the small-town traditions saved.”
Smith famous that Dunn County is geographically massive, and there may simply be a situation when the officers on obligation are in different corners of the county and never in a position to shortly reply to a name to Elk Mound .
So, Smith has began a petition for village residents to signal.
“We have now flyers up and a number of other folks going door to door and getting signatures,” he mentioned.
As of Monday morning, he had collected about 150 signatures between door-to-door chats and a web based kind. He plans to current the petition to the village board on Oct. 5 , forward of their assembly that day. He additionally has filed a request to acquire the complete county proposal and the monetary comparisons used to assist it earlier than taking any vote.
Smith has some doubts that the petition will make a distinction, as he believes the village board has made up its thoughts to shut the police division.
“I simply hope my neighbors communicate up and make their voices heard,” Smith mentioned.
Residents can signal on-line at https://types.gle/PVvWhP19pEuwZWPS8. It’s for Elk Mound residents, however Smith mentioned he’d like others to signal it however word in the event that they dwell exterior the village borders.
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