Residents oppose move to dissolve Hubbard Twp. police force

Staff writer

HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — Two dozen residents gathered in the dark before Monday’s township trustees meeting to show their support for township police officers and to protest dissolving the department.

Molly Begeot, daughter of Detective Sgt. Mike Begeot, and Joe Yaksich planned the protest after news about potentially dissolving the police department spread in print, by word of mouth and after a video surfaced on social media.

“Our officers are personable. It won’t be the same people if it’s the sheriff,” said Yaksich. “No one thinks this is right, especially after the levy.”

“I think it’s wrong what they’re doing. They passed that levy to make the department solvent and all of a sudden there isn’t enough money?” said Dave Gifford, the father of Chris Gifford, president of Fraternal Order of Police No. 85.

The police levy was approved by voters in May, a three-year, 1.75-mil renewal issue for operations; and also a 1.75-mill additional levy for equipment. These together generate a total $156,000 a year.

The trustees meeting was overflowing with people upset about what is happening with the police department. The meeting itself mostly consisted of public comments as residents wanted answers as to why trustees are considering using the sheriff’s office.

Trustee Fred Hanley addressed the crowd by saying he had limited comments on the matter as trustees are still in negotiations and will be meeting again with the police union on Nov. 18.

He did say that a town hall-type meeting will be set up once negotiations are finalized, because of the large amount of residents interested.

“Our options now are to live within our budget, with the money that we do have. We’re out of money, we have a zero balance. There is nothing to go back to. We ask our officers to make concessions to get us through this first year until (levy) revenue starts coming in. Then we’re going to go at the end of the year and we’re going to see how this shakes out. If we can’t come to an agreement I have a statutory obligation provide police protection,” said Hanley.

To help cut costs, the union has offered to take a wage freeze until the levy money comes in, but Hanley said that still won’t be enough, citing that 23 percent of residents will not pay their taxes.

The residents are upset as they voted for the levy to be used on township officers, not the sheriff’s deputies, and are worried that the township will not be a priority to the sheriff.

“I’ve been a resident long enough to remember voting to have our own (in 1977). We’re not happy. Before that, we had to wait between 30 to 45 minutes for a response from the sheriff,” said resident Bill Middlestead.

The levy money will pay for the sheriff’s office, as the levy was worded for police protection.

Hanley said that if trustees enter into a contract with the sheriff’s office, it will be in the contract that at “least two officers 24/7 will be stationed in the adminstration building and they will patrol the roads,” guaranteeing quick response times.

Residents were still not happy, knowing they will have to wait until after Nov. 18 to get the answers they are looking for.

bshiller@tribtoday.com