By Craig Crosby
Kennebec Journal
MONMOUTH, Maine — The best way for the police departments in Winthrop and Monmouth to work together would involve becoming a single department.
That is the message Winthrop Police Chief Joseph Young delivered to Monmouth selectmen Thursday as the board works to plan the future of the Monmouth Police Department.
“This could be very beneficial to both communities,” Young said.
Monmouth Police Chief Robert Annese will step down from the position Feb. 6. In the meantime, selectmen are gathering information on replacing him on an interim basis during the search for a replacement.
Young said Thursday his department would likely be able to provide temporary oversight of the Monmouth police.
Selectmen also met Thursday with Kennebunk-based Central Intelligence, which specializes in providing temporary administration of police departments and providing department reviews.
Selectmen have discussed contracting with Winthrop police to permanently administer the Monmouth Police Department, but the board is anxious to maintain its own authority over the department.
“You can’t control a contract price,” Selectwoman Sharon Wing said Thursday after Young’s presentation. “We can sort of control the town’s budget.”
Under Young’s proposal, officers would be Winthrop employees, receiving the same pay and benefits, and would need to meet the same standards.
“I foresee we’d open interviews,” Young said. "(Current Monmouth employees) would have to interview like everyone else.”
Winthrop would purchase Monmouth’s equipment at a reduced rate, though the equipment could be held so that Monmouth could buy it back should the arrangement fall apart, Young said.
“This is just a conceptual plan,” Young said. “It’s an interesting concept.”
Mike Pardue of Central Intelligence said his company could administer the Monmouth Police Department while the community decides what it wants to do.
Central Intelligence charges $60 per hour.
Monmouth Town Manager Curtis Lunt estimated administration would require about 20 hours per week.
But Pardue said his company will do more than offer supervision, it will also evaluate the Police Department and recommendation policy changes where appropriate.
Central Intelligence also could help the town’s search for a new police chief and evaluate Young’s consolidation proposal.
“The main focus of our business in to...serve as a bridge,” Pardue said.
Selectmen have scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 3 to discuss the proposals, and any others brought forward by residents.
The time and location of that meeting has not been set.
Copyright 2010 Kennebec Journal