Pontiac Citizens Argue Against Police Plan
Oakland County Sheriff's officials met with Pontiac leaders and residents Tuesday over concerns with a proposed contract to disband the cit's police department.
The contract would have most of the remaining Pontiac officers hired by the Sheriff's department to patrol the streets.
Losing local control is an emotional issue for some Pontiac residents. Pastor Douglas Jones, the President of the Committee of 50 in Pontiac, wondered if they could still pass a millage to keep their cops.
"I don't know if they could get it on the ballot, you know. I don't know if there's a June vote or something like that. The question would be, how long can you survive with the financial situation the city is in," Jones said.
Pastor Jones said the major concern in Pontiac is safety and security. He hopes to learn more about where people stand at a town hall meeting Friday night.
Some Pontiac residents, like Leslie Stanely, are concerned about what will happen down the line.
"Where are the people going to come from ten years from now? That's what I want to know. Not where they're gonna come from today," she told WWJ's Ron Dewey.
Sheriff Mike Bouchard says it's more about continuity. He said county officers know the area and have been working there over a period of time.
"If you actually do an analysis, lots of times the local police might not even live in that community," Bouchard said.
Pontiac officials say the contract through the sheriff's department would save Pontiac $2 million dollars a year and put more feet on the street.
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