As the state continues to raise the cost to local towns for participating in the resident state trooper program, some towns have responded by pulling out of the program or reducing the number of state troopers.

Preston is adding a possible third option to the discussion, fielding inquiries from neighboring Norwich and Ledyard about possibly contracting for police coverage in Preston.

The discussions started this spring, after First Selectman Robert Congdon's 2016-17 budget showed the cost for the town's two resident state troopers will jump from $239,613 this year to $322,650.

The state will require towns to pay 85 percent of salaries and benefits, up from 70 percent.

New Norwich City Manager John Salomone and Ledyard Mayor Michael Finkelstein separately approached Congdon to talk about possibly sharing police services.

Salomone and Norwich Police Chief Louis Fusaro met three weeks ago with Congdon and David Paige, co-chairman of the Preston Emergency Services Committee, to launch a discussion about possibly contracting for police coverage.

Salomone said there is no model for a possible scenario, and talks are preliminary.

Services could include officers assigned to Preston — similar to a resident trooper — or regular patrols in the town or just responses to emergency calls.

Salomone's proposed Norwich police budget for next year calls for 90 uniformed officers, with four positions being cut in a cost-saving move.

“The welcome was always out there in some ways, if it could be worked out, that we would certainly try to help,” Salomone said.

“In the past with the state subsidizing (resident troopers) quite a bit, it wasn't cost effective"  for Preston to get police coverage from Norwich, he added. "Now, with the state dropping subsidies, it becomes cost effective.”

Ledyard knows the issue firsthand, Finkelstein said.

Ledyard is one of two towns in the state thus far — Norfolk is the other — to drop resident state troopers.

North Stonington in December voted to reduce from three to two resident state troopers.

Finkelstein said Ledyard ended its participation in February, and still the final bill from the state for seven months of this fiscal year was 21 percent higher than expected.

Ledyard upgraded its constabulary police department into a regular municipal police department with 21 officers.

Ledyard already has police ties to Preston. Since 2003, the Ledyard emergency dispatch has handled both police and emergency calls to Preston.

“We certainly would be interested in having that conversation with Preston,” said Finkelstein, a retired town police lieutenant. “… I definitely can understand the resident trooper issue.”

During the April 14 Preston budget public hearing, residents suggested cutting back to one resident trooper, but the Board of Finance rejected that proposal.

Congdon told residents that both Norwich and Ledyard had reached out to him about possibly sharing police services, but no agreement could be reached in time for the town's budget town meeting and referendum in May.

Paige said more meetings would be needed, and Preston would have to receive one or more proposals from Norwich.

Preston and Ledyard officials have yet to meet on the issue.

“It is so preliminary, it’s hard to share an opinion,” Paige said. “It’s prudent and responsible to look at what they propose.”

There's no exact model in Connecticut for one town contracting for total police coverage from another municipality.

But Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield said her town is happy with its contractual relationship with Middletown across the Connecticut River for partial police services.

Portland dropped resident state trooper coverage about 18 years ago, Bransfield said, and upgraded its town police force, with 11 sworn officers and the first selectman serving as civilian chief.

Portland contracts with Middletown for police and fire dispatch services and for mutual aid.

Middletown also provides overnight holding cells when needed for Portland.

“They are not our department,” Bransfield said. “We are independent, and we share the dispatching services. Because of our proximity and good relations, they assist us in a number of ways.”

Because a bridge connects the two towns over the Connecticut River, the two police departments can help each other apprehend a suspect attempting to flee one town by crossing the bridge, Bransfield said.

“I think we're somewhat unique,” Bransfield said of the arrangement. “I don't know of any other like this.”

c.bessette@theday.com