RUMFORD – Police chiefs and town managers from Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield unveiled a plan Thursday to merge their police departments with one chief leading a criminal investigation division and a patrol force.
The move would provide daily round-the-clock coverage and 24 employees, one more than the combined total of the departments now. The investigative force would have a captain, lieutenant, detective sergeant and two detectives; the patrol division a captain, three sergeants, 12 patrolmen and two utility patrolmen.
Also proposed is a school officer who would be shared by SADs 43 and 21.
Although specific figures aren’t worked out yet, Mexico Town Manager John Madigan said he believes the cost would be about the same as the combined budgets of the three departments: about $1.8 million, including insurance and benefits.
“This plan would give us two more detectives to do investigative work in all three towns,” he said. The cost of two utility patrolmen would be offset by less overtime pay, he added.
While many people believe merging the departments should lower costs, it may not, Rumford Town Manager Steve Eldridge said.
“We might see savings five or 10 years down the road,” he acknowledged.
Whether there are financial benefits or not, managers and chiefs believe the merged force would result in a better investigative unit that is more likely to solve more cases.
“A criminal division could be working pretty much full time on things like drug busts,” Dixfield Police Chief Richard Pickett said.
Both Rumford Chief Stacy Carter and Mexico Chief Jim Theriault view the plan as far more efficient than the three separate departments, particularly in the towns of Dixfield and Mexico where there is no officially designated detective.
Rumford Selectman Greg Buccina said a more efficient force could make the area safer and more attractive to people.
“We need to start selling what we could be in five years,” he said.
A possible budget for the plan will be put together before the next Regionalism Committee meeting Feb. 28. It will include such things as cost of police services per capita for each town, cost per property owner, and suggestions for cost sharing.
If all the figures are worked out during the next few weeks, Eldridge said residents of each of the three towns may be asked at their June town meetings whether the committee should go ahead with a merger.
Comments are no longer available on this story