Inverness police move will hit hard in Barrington

Some Barrington Police Department personnel will be out of a job following the village of Inverness' decision to start its own force.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch said some job cuts will need to be made, but how many still needs to be determined.

"We are going to have to look at what adjustments we are going to have make in staffing," she said.

Inverness trustees passed a resolution Tuesday night officially creating the village's first police department.

That move ended an arrangement that had been in place for more than 30 years in which Barrington police also provided protection to Inverness.

Inverness trustees turned down an offer last month from Barrington to continue those services.

Since the existing contract between the communities doesn't expire until the end of April 2009, Darch said the village has time to figure out what exact staffing levels will be needed.

"I think that is why this (extra time) was built into the contract, so everyone will have time to figure everything out," Darch said.

She said Barrington was definitely in favor of extending the police contract with Inverness.

"We thought there was a lot of value to that relationship," Darch said.

Barrington had offered a five-year, $10.1 million contract to continue policing Inverness. That had already been lowered by $1.5 million from an earlier offer.

An outside consultant's study estimated it would cost Inverness $1.3 million less over five years to start its own department instead of going with Barrington.

Despite the higher offer, Barrington Trustee Jim Daluga told Inverness officials it was a fair proposal.

"You are comparing it to a study," he said. "But this is real life versus a study."

Under a scenario by the consultants, the new police department will be housed inside the village hall annex at 1415 Baldwin Road.

It will consist of 10 to 12 employees with at least two sworn officers on duty at all times.

While making its final offer to Inverness trustees last month, Barrington officials warned that just because something looks cheaper on paper, it doesn't always equate to a savings.

"As you start your own department, you will find that a lack of depth creates problems," said Barrington Police Chief Jeff Lawler. "It's hard to handle some things with a small number of personnel."

Inverness considered starting its own force five years ago when the Barrington contract was last up for renewal.

• Daily Herald staff writer Sara Faiwell contributed to this report.