August 14, 2019
Sheriff’s office moves on
BY DIANE NEWBERRY
After years of disagreements, the tension between Garrison and McLean County over police contracts came to a head Monday afternoon with the county deciding to cut ties in a brief, 12-minute meeting.
A week before, the Garrison City Council voted 4-2 not to renew the city’s contract with the McLean County Sheriff’s Office. At their Monday meeting, the county commissioners voted unanimously to put Garrison on legal notice that the sheriff’s office will be moving their resources from Garrison to White Shield.
White Shield and the sheriff’s office already have the only law enforcement agreements in the state for any law enforcement on a reservation. County States Attorney Ladd Erickson called the new agreement “a continuation of a very good working relationship.”
Dollars and deadlines
Though the official papers have not been signed, the Three Affiliated Tribes and McLean County plan to enter a $160,000 contract for law enforcement services. The new contract makes up for the $161,197 lost from the office’s potential Garrison contract.
Garrison’s 2020 contract proposal was up 2 percent, or about $3,000 from last year, which was one of the main reasons Garrison city commissioners declined to renew. All cities in the county with a police service contract were asked for a 2 percent raise to cover staff salary and benefit increases according to documents from the McLean County auditor.
A week before, the Garrison City Council voted 4-2 not to renew the city’s contract with the McLean County Sheriff’s Office. At their Monday meeting, the county commissioners voted unanimously to put Garrison on legal notice that the sheriff’s office will be moving their resources from Garrison to White Shield.
White Shield and the sheriff’s office already have the only law enforcement agreements in the state for any law enforcement on a reservation. County States Attorney Ladd Erickson called the new agreement “a continuation of a very good working relationship.”
Dollars and deadlines
Though the official papers have not been signed, the Three Affiliated Tribes and McLean County plan to enter a $160,000 contract for law enforcement services. The new contract makes up for the $161,197 lost from the office’s potential Garrison contract.
Garrison’s 2020 contract proposal was up 2 percent, or about $3,000 from last year, which was one of the main reasons Garrison city commissioners declined to renew. All cities in the county with a police service contract were asked for a 2 percent raise to cover staff salary and benefit increases according to documents from the McLean County auditor.
