Select board members will take public comment on the town's law
enforcement budget and the hours allocated by the contract with the
Washington County Sheriff's Department.
In addition, public comment will also be taken on anything regarding
potential collaborative efforts between the sheriff's department, the
Neighborhood Watch program, Warren constables and the Sugarbush Resort
area.
Currently, Warren contracts with the Washington County Sheriff's
Department for 24 hours per week at a cost of $34,900. The town
typically receives between $14,000 and $15,000 in highway fines.
Washington County Sheriff Sam Hill told residents present at a
Valley-wide law enforcement forum that The Valley towns contract hours
vary and that coverage includes conducting traffic patrol, transporting
prisoners and following through with the "due process of law."
Currently, according to Hill, sheriffs spend 40 hours per week in The
Valley: 16 hours in Waitsfield and 24 in Warren. Warren and Waitsfield
are cross-patrolled, with coverage rotating back and forth between the
two towns. Warren's additional eight hours are covered at a separate
time, he said.
State law will soon require that constables complete 186 hours of
training at the Vermont State Police Academy; without the training, the
enforcement powers of the constables will be significantly reduced. The
state is required to pay for the required training once the law comes
into effect in 2011.
KAH
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