NEW HAVEN, Mo. – Citizens in New Haven, Franklin County, have voiced concerns about policing in their community during the city’s Board of Aldermen meeting Monday.
The board recently voted to disband the city’s police department and is temporarily turning to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department for assistance.
City officials have cited difficulty maintaining a department due to the cost. The department’s police chief recently resigned and raised concerns, including how evidence was handled.
“I’m really looking forward to a change and maybe someday we’ll get our police department back,” Linda Pilarski, New Haven resident, said.
During Monday’s meeting, authorities with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said an examination of the chief’s concerns is underway but so far, nothing improper was found. In two cases, what was thought to be missing evidence was either returned to its rightful owner or turned out not to be actual evidence.
“I think Franklin County is doing a far better job,” one resident said during the public forum.
After the meeting, Mayor Jason Addison said they would really like their police department back.
However, long-term plans are not yet clear. In the meantime, the city has entered a six-month contract with Franklin County for policing services at a monthly cost of $59,609.
