Monmouth has recently been receiving some of its police coverage from deputies of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Monmouth’s selectmen have reduced the staff of the town’s police department from five to four full-time officers.
At last year’s town meeting, Monmouth citizens voted to spend $270,000 for a full-time, five-man department. For a property owner with a $100,000 home, this meant $70 in taxes was spent for the police department. The selectmen have chosen to do away with our full-time, five-man department to save some money. This might save citizens $4 or $5 in tax dollars, but they could get a deputy who is in Vassalboro when they need help.
Last November when citizens voted on the referendum question on the police department, 43 percent of the voters chose a full-time department. 33 percent wanted a reduced department.
At last May’s town meeting, citizens voted to spend their tax dollars to have a Monmouth police officer on duty 24 hours a day, an officer who knows the town and its citizens and can be there when you need them, in less than five minutes.
Monmouth deserves, needs and voted to have a fully staffed police department. It is the selectmen’s responsibility to carry out the wishes of the voters.
Douglas Ludewig, Monmouth
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