Exploratory Group Opportunity

I want to form an ad hoc group of Holiday Island residents interested in researching what it would take to establish a police department in Holiday Island. Note that this is NOT an announcement that we are going to establish a police department! There are definitely advantages to having a police  department. But there are also advantages to staying with the sheriff department.

Some small cities have no police department and no contract for a specific amount of patrolling from the county sheriff. They simply rely on being part of the county’s regular patrol, which means coverage is shared with the entire county.

We have followed the example set by Horseshoe Bend, who has contracted with their county for several years. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department has a “metropolitan division” that is basically the Yellville police department. Yellville being the county seat gives them some political clout. But the vast majority of smaller cities have a police department. Even many towns under 1000 in population have police departments.

As mayor, I would like to know what it takes to establish a department, what the start-up cost would be, and most importantly, what the ongoing cost would be. If anyone is interested in working with a small group to look at it, please contact me at 479-379-8041 or email mayor@cityofholidayisland.com.