Pursue promising regional initiative

A new report examining the feasibility of creating a regional police department to serve the towns of Montville, Preston and Ledyard demonstrates the potential for savings, but also lays bare the significant challenges.

Most encouraging was the study committee's findings: "The potential for enhanced public safety services and long-term savings justify the pursuit of further study of the concept of a regional police department in some form."

The leaders in these respective communities, having taken an important first step, should aggressively pursue the idea of a regional police force.

Facilitated by state Rep. Tom Reynolds, a Democrat representing Preston and Ledyard in the 42nd District and an advocate for regionalization, the Tri-Town Public Safety Study Committee had the job of assessing potential benefits and drawbacks and recommending how to proceed. It did that job well.

The collective population of the three towns is 40,097, about the size of Groton. The potential savings of having a single police force to serve the communities include reduced administrative costs, central dispatching, more efficient deployment of personnel and reduced overhead by only maintaining one police station, the committee found.

A larger department also could attract more grant money and take advantage of financial incentives the state is providing to encourage regional initiatives that lower municipal government costs.

The time is right for the three towns to pursue the idea. Montville needs to replace its outdated, deficient police station. The town is also exploring whether to create a force independent from the state police resident trooper program. Having taken ownership of the massive former Norwich Hospital campus, officials in Preston recognize any development there will almost certainly require increased public safety services, including a police force. All three towns face tough budgetary challenges, as does most every community in the state.

Ledyard police have 23 constables, Montville 25. Both towns utilize one resident state trooper. Preston currently has no police force, instead using two resident troopers to patrol its 33 square miles. Excluding fire services, Ledyard spends about $2.37 million on public safety, Montville $2.5 million and Preston $232,400. On a per capita basis, that comes to $156 for Ledyard, $117 for Montville and $47 for Preston.

The challenges involved in merging these services are significant, but manageable. The municipalities would have to determine a fair way to distribute the financial burden, with flexibility to increase services in Preston based on the development of the hospital property. Ledyard and Montville constables have separate unions and contracts and would have to transition to a single agreement.

Most difficult could be locating a police station and coming up with geographical patrol priorities. Even within municipalities, citizens complain that one neighborhood or another is getting too much or not enough attention.

But this can be done. Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz of Montville, Mayor Fred Allyn Jr. of Ledyard and Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon deserve credit for exploring an innovative way to control costs. Now comes the real challenge - pushing forward to make it happen.

The study committee said the next step for the three town officials is to demonstrate political support within the towns for the concept. Once that foundation is in place, the communities should utilize an outside facilitator to develop an action plan, leading to a formal feasibility study and a cost-benefit analysis, recommends the committee.

Sounds like a good plan. Don't let this become another study collecting dust on a shelf.