3/10/14 - A Putnam Township committee aimed at examining the future of road patrols in that municipality discussed the issue with Undersheriff Mike Murphy last week. Putnam is one of the local townships that contracts with the sheriff's department for dedicated road patrols, paying in the neighborhood of $73,000 per year. The township's current contract expires in the summer of 2015. Murphy says the township received a letter from the sheriff last year indicating that the future of road patrols is uncertain. The county is building a new jail facility, and officials are considering cutting back on non-mandated services, like road patrols, to make sure the new facility has enough staffing and funding to operate. According to Murphy, the township was concerned that the letter might indicate the contract for dedicated patrols was coming to an end. The township formed a Police Protection Committee to address the question of policing the township. Last week, Murphy met with that committee to assure them that the contract will be honored and the option to hire road patrols from the sheriff's department will likely remain unchanged. Murphy says the committee expressed satisfaction with the road patrols as they are currently being offered. (TD)
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