Village board votes to eliminate Big Bend Police Department

 

BIG BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A plan to disband the Big Bend Police Department moved through the village board swiftly and rather silently, raising eyebrows and lighting a fire among residents. 

A contract that's expected to be signed calls for Waukesha County deputies to assume all policing needs, both in Big Bend and in Vernon. 

Sparks fly as the Big Bend Village Board returns from a closed-door session. 

"When we first got the agenda, it just said, you know, 'police services' under the closed session. When we got in there, kind of shocking that this was just thrown at us," said Josh Grover, Big Bend village trustee.

The board voted 5-2 on a subject even some village trustees tell us they had no idea was being brought before them. 

They talked money behind closed doors. One trustee said Big Bend police write dozens of tickets a month, so that revenue would be lost with them gone, but eliminating the 13-member Big Bend Police Department could also save the small community some $200,000 a year. 

"And looking at savings, I get it, but there's other places where we could cut the budget instead of our police department," said Traci Lewandowski, Big Bend village trustee. 

Waukesha County deputies already cover police calls for Vernon. The new contract between Big Bend, Vernon and the county would mean those same deputies would be responsible for Big Bend, too. 

"So, I'm worried that they're not gonna have enough coverage for us," said Lewandowski.

Two Waukesha County squads are right now running out of the Vernon Fire Station, but under this shared services plan, they would both be stationed at the Big Bend Village Hall about seven minutes away. 

Big Bend and Vernon would share the cost of services. 

"But when it comes down to it, you can't put a price on your safety," said Grover.

A lot of people on Facebook are speaking out against the plan. Some residents say they know what they've got with the current 13 men and women in this police station and don't want to give them up. 

"They help the community and they've become friends with everybody, you know. It's like a family," said Grover. 

The plan is not set in stone yet. Both villages and Waukesha County still have to sign the contract. 

We reached out to trustees who voted for the plan, but we did not yet hear back.