City officials say they’re looking for community input as the Clarkston Police Department moves through transition sparked most recently by the firing of now former Police Chief Ernest Combs.
A survey asking residents what they like, don’t like, and where they might like to see changes in the department arrived at city homes and businesses last week.
A public hearing is also scheduled for Wed., April 25, at the Independence Township Fire Station.
‘We’ve had zero community input to our email address,? said Chuck Inabnit, who replaced Scott Meyland as police committee chair. ‘We’re hoping we’ll get a little bit more with the survey and the public hearing.?
Residents can Email the committee at clarkstonpsc@yahoo.com.
The city council approved creation of the police committee in October when controversy over the department’s costs and services heated mayoral campaigns.
The committee first met Nov. 28, facing challenges along the way as some members felt undermined by council members and others.
Acting Police Chief Jim Thompson, for example, recently proposed reclaiming the department’s midnight shift from the Oakland County Sheriff’s department.
A switch, he said, would save the city about $14,000 annually.
‘I think it’s a good idea,? said Thompson. ‘I think it will please most of the citizens in town if we have a car here and they can call and actually talk to the Clarkston police officer on duty 24-hours a day.?
Inabnit, however, reiterated a previous request.
‘Like I said at the last meeting, I’d like any decision regarding the police to wait until we submit our report,? he said, adding that the committee plans to present findings and make recommendations to the council in late May.
Councilman Bill Rausch, however, was ‘very much in favor of the third shift,? and pressed council for a quick decision on bringing back the midnight shift.
‘I’m an impatient guy,? said Rausch. ‘This police committee report was supposed to be done the first of April, now it’s the first of June.?
The council, however, voted 6-1 to wait for the police committee report before making a decision on the midnight shift. Rausch held the sole opposing vote.
‘We gave our word to the police committee to wait for their recommendations before we made any changes,? said City Councilwoman Kristy Ottman. ‘And the whole point of having the committee was to hear from the residents.?
Other council members had similar thoughts. Most were generally in favor of reinstating the midnight shift’eventually.
‘The idea sounds good, but it all seems a little strange,? said Councilman Jim Brueck. ‘Here we are, all of a sudden this is a better idea’I don’t know what the total story is and I’m in no mood to be pressed into a decision.?
Meanwhile, city officials attended a recent meeting with Independence Township Supervisor David Wagner, Oakland County Commissioner Tom Middleton and representatives of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department to discuss a new police proposal.
The township and the sheriff’s office offered Clarkston officials a plan that would allow the city to save an estimated $100,000 by dissolving its police department and returning to services by OCSD through a subcontract with the county.
Although the idea was hardly new, the plan took a fresh approach proposing to assign a full time sergeant who would act as Clarkston’s de-facto police chief.
‘You can put him on a bike, have him walk the street or whatever you want to do,? said OCSD Business Manager Dale Cunningham. ‘We’ll give you 40 hours of service from a sergeant, and the Independence Township deputies will patrol and respond to calls as usual on the afternoon and midnight shifts.?
The sergeant would come with an Oakland County Sheriff’s patrol car, which the city could choose to mark with its name and logo.
The plan would cost the city about $126,000 annually, plus a 10 percent administrative fee.
Clarkston’s 2006-2007 police budget totaled $239,361, with $31,700 allocated to Independence Township for midnight shift police services by OSCD.
Independence Township paid about $3.7 million to the OCSD last year.
The city has not declined the proposal, but seemed unlikely to accept it, either, citing concerns about overtime charges, extra fees and service not aligned with the city’s wants and needs.
Still, the city has yet to begin the search for a permanent police chief to replace Combs.
‘We did receive one resume, and I hear there’s one on the way,? said Clarkston City Manager Art Pappas. ‘We haven’t advertised for the position.?
Meanwhile, the city is facing the threat of yet another financial strain as talks over dispatch service continue without resolution.
‘The negotiations aren’t going real smooth,? said Catallo.