Utah State University - » Hyde Park votes to stay with North Park Police Department

Hyde Park votes to stay with North Park Police Department

November 10th, 2011 Posted in Opinion

By Allee Evensen

HYDE PARK- A 32-year relationship between Hyde Park and North Logan police forces will remain intact, as of Wednesday night’s City Council meeting.

In a unanimous vote the council voted to stay with North Park Police Department rather than have the Cache Valley Sheriff’s Office provide policing services.

“(This) is what we wanted to try to do, move forward,” said Mayor Bryan Cox. “(It’s time to) let the police department and Cache County know…the officers are wondering and we’ve had it on the table for a long time.”

Cox announced in late August that Hyde Park would consider cutting off the relationship with North Park Police Department, citing that the move would save the city money. After the council took both plans into consideration, they came to the conclusion that either option would fit the city well.

Each of the five council members reported that they had informally surveyed residents, asking if they would favor the move.

Councilman Robert Christensen said that nearly 95 percent of the residents he talked to were pleased with the police service provided by North Park and didn’t feel the need to switch. “Those who I talked to liked the system we have because of the safety and the response time that we receive,” he said.

Councilwoman Carol Johnson held the same opinion. “I vote that we stay with North Park police but we encourage them to do everything they can to keep the costs down,” she said.

During KVNU radio’s Crosstalk show Nov. 2, County Sheriff Lynn Nelson reported that Hyde Park had been in negotiations with the county for more than four months. He said using the county would save Hyde Park nearly $180,000. Without the move, he said, Hyde Park would likely resort to a tax raise.

Even if Hyde Park didn’t make the move, Nelson said Cache County will continue to provide services that it provides to all surrounding areas who have their own police forces. “We’re more than eager to provide them help,” he said in the interview.

Councilman Mark Hurd said that while the city would be well-served either way, residents he talked to fully supported the job North Park is doing. “[Let’s] maintain the good thing we’ve got,” Hurd said.

NW

Tags: city council, Hyde Park, North Park Police, vote