Good reason to keep Winfield PD intact

Good reason to keep Winfield PD intact

I want to thank the Winfield Police Department for its continued efforts to keep our children safe. After the recent 4 or 5 attempted child abductions — 2 within my neighborhood — the WPD’s quick response and continued patrolling of the neighborhoods and school areas has been greatly appreciated and has not gone unnoticed.

To quote a neighbor, “I’d also like to add that this incident is a perfect example of why Winfield must maintain its own police department. I hope you will join me in voting on the advisory referendum question on the November ballot to keep our police department and let our trustees know that outsourcing police services to the county sheriff’s department is unacceptable.”

That comment was met with unmitigated support. We are grateful that our children have been smart enough to run and brave enough to come forward. In light of the reality that our fairly closed off and “secure” neighborhood has been targeted, our neighbors have banded together to notify each other of “safe houses” for kids — in case they see something strange and can’t make it to their own home, these are the houses to run to, where someone is almost always home.

We all have a more watchful eye on the streets, and I for one have been very pleased to see the WPD patrolling those streets. It is also great to see the squad car parked near Pleasant Hill Elementary during morning drop-off — especially after a student was approached last spring going to school.

In all of our discussions, none of my neighbors has been able to come up with any conceivable plan of how we would get this sort of support and protection without a dedicated-to-Winfield police department. The WPD has proved that our own police are worth their weight in gold (and tax dollars).

Terese Janik

Winfield