(LAPEER COUNTY) – At an informational forum last week, Lapeer County Sheriff Scott McKenna told Imlay City residents the ultimate decision is theirs, but if Imlay City contracts with the sheriff department for police coverage, they will notice very little in the way of changes.
Around 200 people, most of whom want to maintain the city police department, gathered in a building at the Eastern Michigan fairgrounds last Thursday night to voice their concerns about the issue of police protection in Imlay City.
Mayor Joi Kempf and other city officials have been gathering information on the pros and cons, including the cost of operating the department.
Sheriff McKenna said there will still be a high police presence in the city, if contracted with the sheriff department, and all of the current officers would be offered opportunity to be hired in as deputies working the Imlay City division.
If the city chooses to make a change, they stand to save around $400,000 dollars which is the amount of their current budget shortfall.
A decision is expected at a future City Commission meeting.
