3/21/14 - Putnam Township's Police Protection Committee met last night to hear from Pinckney Police Chief Jeff Newton, who argued in favor of expanding his department's jurisdiction to include the entire township. The committee is currently examining options for police coverage in the township, which is currently contracting with the Livingston County Sheriff's Department for 40 hours of dedicated patrols every week. Last night, Newton argued that 40 hours a week is not sufficient for the community. He said although Putnam residents only make an average of 4.5 calls for service per day, only about 1.5 of those calls can be answered with that limited coverage. He said some calls might even get put off because dispatch knows that a dedicated officer will eventually come on duty. Newton said the township should switch to full-time coverage for the benefit of residents. He tells WHMI the sheriff's department would do an outstanding job if hired to provide full-time coverage, but his own department is the natural choice since the village is centrally located within the township and the residents there are already paying the same taxes as township residents. Newton estimates that his $450,000 budget would have to increase to $750-800,000 to accommodate the four extra officers needed to cover the entire township. That kind of budget would require a township-wide tax of about 2.5 mills to fund. The Police Protection Committee's next meeting will take place in two weeks, and if a recommendation for the township board cannot be reached then another meeting may be scheduled. (TD)
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