PARIS — Selectmen have pushed back the vote on a trial merger of the Paris and Norway police departments, but both chiefs say they’re willing to work on a new timeline if it means getting information on the merger out to everyone.

On Monday, selectmen voted to remove an item from the town meeting warrant asking Paris voters whether they would support a one-year trial. They decided to hold a public hearing in June to allow residents to get more information on the merger, which would join both departments under the leadership of Norway Chief Robert Federico.

Norway residents will vote in June on whether the town will enter the merger.

Paris police Chief David Verrier said he was fine with extending the timeline, even if the trial merger couldn’t begin on the planned start date of July 1. He said he understood the board is juggling several issues and that the police issue may be delayed.

Verrier said the town had been looking at cutting a position and not providing the department with a police car. “As the chief of this department, I don’t feel it’s safe for the citizens to take a step backwards,” he said.

According to Verrier, crime has been on the rise. He said bedroom communities around the country are seeing more robberies and drug crime.

Verrier also said he disagreed with statements by residents at Monday’s board meeting that the merger would only benefit Norway. He said the combined departments would allow more traffic checks on Paris roads and would allow more time to investigate crimes.

Federico said it was the selectmen who, in a meeting last year, asked departments in both towns to look for ways to save money through shared services. “I believe we’re the only department that came back with any serious information,” he said. “If they choose not to do this, I’d have to ask how serious they were.

“We’re not going to be saving a substantial amount of money, but we’re not going to be asking for more money,” he said.

A draft of the merger calls for putting more experienced Paris officers in leadership positions while younger Norway officers patrol the streets of both towns. During the trial period, a transition team would work to smooth out any problems that arise and set the stage for a permanent merger. If the departments merge, either town has the option to cancel it.

The plan would make Verrier the school resource officer, a position he said he’ll be happy to take in order to make the merger work.

Verrier said the novelty of being Maine’s first merged police system might give the department a shot at law enforcement grants. “Not everybody’s going to like change, but sometimes change is good,” Verrier said.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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