SAUGATUCK, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The city of Saugatuck is still trying to decide the fate of the Saugatuck-Douglas Police Department.
In a workshop meeting on Monday, July 11 Saugatuck Mayor Chris Peterson brought up the results of a Chicago consulting firm, whom the city hired to survey the current police department.
The survey revealed that the joint –city police department model did not work and the firm listed a few options that the city could consider when Saugatuck renews its contract with the city of Douglas this March.
Some of those options included partnering with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department and other municipalties.
Mayor Peterson told Gary Stevens on Talk of the Town today that the police department revision is not an indictment of its services, but rather how to get the best value for the budget. “I’ve personally used them several times and they are just wonderful, but how should we best spend our tax payer’s dollars, so that we get the best policing model that works for our community. “
Mayor Peterson created an Ad Hoc subcommittee around the issue, led by Councilmember Barry Johnson, and they will come up with a list of concerns and options to be reviewed with Saugatuck residents.
