PARIS — The Board of Selectmen on Monday unanimously approved authorizing statewide arrest powers to full-time, trained Police Department officers, allowing them to act outside the town, if necessary.

The issue initially came from concern by interim Chief Jerry Hinton that the Paris police officer who serves as resource officer at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris did not have jurisdiction in the other seven district towns when a problem arose.

Hinton told the board that departments in some 37 or 38 towns and cities, including neighboring Norway, have statewide arrest authority. It is only given to full-time, academy-trained officers.

“You can’t even put on your blue lights if you see a drunk driver in Norway,” Hinton said.

The lack of statewide arrest authorization also inhibits investigations and other matters, he said.

Authorizing the statewide arrest powers also allows officers to present cases in court without the town attorney, Hinton said.

Currently, the Paris Police Department will call another town or jurisdiction if they have a case that goes beyond Paris town lines, and an officer from that jurisdiction will accompany the officer.

Norway instituted the policy in 2005. It has been instituted in other Maine towns and cities since 2003.

“I think we’re late to this,” Selectman Robert Wessels said. “We should have done this years ago.” 

“There’s no reason to put this off,” Selectmen Chairman Sam Elliot said.

Voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether the town should disband its Police Department in favor of contracting with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office. If they decide to do so, the Police Department would be disbanded July 1.

Residents favoring Sheriff’s Office coverage have said the Police Department is too expensive, mismanaged and ineffective. Those defending the department, including the interim chief, have said Paris has a staff of dedicated, loyal officers who know the town well.

In other business, the board:

* Agreed to close the town office at 1 p.m. June 28 to close out fiscal year-end items.

* Decided to pursue the town’s domain name and to purchase, for $15, an available name.

* Agreed to match $14,000 with the town of Norway for a grant to improve sidewalks on Alpine Street.

* Discussed the upcoming town meeting articles.

The annual town meeting is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, in the Paris Fire Station on Western Avenue.

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