Give new department chance

Usually I don't get involved in defending criticism appearing in letters to the editor.

However, after reading Linda Soto's letter in the Feb. 17 Daily Herald, I feel compelled to justify the decision of Hainesville's trustees to form our own police department.

Although Mrs. Soto is entitled to her opinion, I don't think that she has kept herself informed on the issue. If I recall correctly, she has only attended two or three board meetings since she returned to Hainesville two years ago. Further, I don't recall her attending that many after she decided not to run for a second term and I became mayor.

Unless one attends village board meetings, they cannot know the many issues preceding the decision that was made. Listening to another resident or reading the newspapers is not sufficient.

The first police intergovernmental agreement was made under Soto's administration when our population was barely over 1,000 residents (Hainesville is now approaching 4,000). We were getting too large to continue with a part-time police department and the concept of entering the intergovernmental agreement with Round Lake Park was presented to the board. This allowed us to have 24 hour service and did benefit Round Lake Park financially.

At that time, many residents did not approve of the decision. I was a trustee at that time. But they allowed us to make the decisions they elected us to make. The joint relationship did provide Hainesville with excellent police service until last year when certain circumstances led to its termination.

Now, let's clear the air. Our new 24-hour police department is not going to be made up exclusively of part-time officers. Chief Roth is full time and he is in the process of hiring two or three more full-time officers. Yes, we will have part-time officers as do other communities. Each one is going to be carefully screened by the chief and they must be certified. And Chief Roth plans on being hands on so you will also see him on patrol.

As Chief Roth stated the night he was sworn in, "We aren't going to have a gold-plated department but we are going to have a police department that we all are going to be proud of."

Almost all surrounding communities are being supportive and many are giving us equipment to aid us in getting started. Yes, it is used, but all of it is in good working condition. Shortly you will see the cars that Round Lake Beach donated completely repainted and with our own graphics.

This is going to work. I ask the naysayers to lay off of the criticism and give it a chance.

Ted Mueller

Mayor

Village of Hainesville