Sleepy Hollow to keep its police force

When it comes to police services, Sleepy Hollow has once again decided to go it alone.

On Monday night, the village board unanimously rejected a proposal that would have paid the West Dundee Police Department to patrol its streets. Trustee Russell Getz attended the meeting, but arrived after the vote.

Under the proposal, Sleepy Hollow would have given up its police force of five full-time officers, about a dozen part-time officers, a police chief and a records clerk.

In return, West Dundee would have created a separate beat out of Sleepy Hollow and hired six new cops to patrol it.

West Dundee presented the idea to the village as a way to pool resources and save costs.

Sleepy Hollow now spends $879,000 a year to maintain its police force, said Trustee Jeff Seiler, a member of the village’s finance commission. But entering into the deal with West Dundee would have put the village in the hole at $290,000, officials said. That number includes unemployment costs incurred after eliminating the police department.

“The decimal point wasn’t in the right place for me,” Trustee Dennis Fudala said.

Trustee Scott Finney, chairman of the police and public safety committee, was concerned about the loss of autonomy because he’d want the village to have a say in picking police officers. If they handed police services over to West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow would lose that power. Trustee Joe Nemec pointed out that the police would answer to West Dundee, not Sleepy Hollow.

Kathy Jaskowiak, a member of the ad hoc police consolidation committee, said if there was an issue that involved a West Dundee police officer in Sleepy Hollow, she couldn’t bring it up to Sleepy Hollow. She’d instead need to take the matter to West Dundee officials, whom she predicted wouldn’t be as sympathetic to Sleepy Hollow complaints.

“If something happens in Sleepy Hollow, (residents) can come here and our village board will care,” Jaskowiak said.

Last February, Sleepy Hollow opted out of a proposal to consolidate its police services with East Dundee and West Dundee, pointing to a loss of autonomy and not realizing enough savings. The deal ultimately collapsed.

West Dundee officials returned with the latest proposal in December. Sleepy Hollow leaders will continue to find ways to save money on police services and keep an open mind about future collaborations.

“I will inform West Dundee that we appreciate their thoughts and their efforts but at this time, it does not seem to be feasible for the village of Sleepy Hollow to consider a contractual arrangement with them for police services at this time,” Village President Stephen Pickett said.