Mara Bain
Guest Columnist
There is no question the Washington County Sheriff’s Office is a professional organization. Sheriff Hutton and Chief Deputy Starry lead a team of dedicated deputies, and Forest Lake residents benefit daily from the services they provide. The question before our city is whether the Forest Lake Police Department should be disbanded and primary law enforcement services contracted through WCSO. I would contend there are five primary reasons why a compelling case has not been made.broadstreet.zone(48036);
We lose local control.
Currently, Forest Lake residents, through their election of city officials, control every aspect of services provided by the Forest Lake Police Department. We control budget, leadership, staffing, policies and day-to-day operations. Under a WCSO contract, this control is transferred to the Washington County Sheriff and Board of Commissioners, all elected officials with very few ties to Forest Lake.
Cost differences are not significant or guaranteed.
As of press deadline for this column, only
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