Preston — Ledyard police and town leaders presented Tuesday a conceptual plan for providing police coverage to Preston that would call for three patrols through town 24 hours a day, with a fourth patrol added during evening shifts, at a preliminary total cost of $381,684.

Ledyard Police Chief John Rich, Lt. Ken Creutz and Mayor Michael Finkelstein gave the presentation Tuesday to members of the Preston Emergency Services Advisory Committee Police Services Subcommittee and First Selectman Robert Congdon.

Preston is researching whether partnering with either Ledyard or Norwich for police services could save the town money or improve services from the town's current system of having two resident state troopers assigned to the town. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposed budget calls for increasing towns' share of resident trooper costs from 85 percent to 100 percent next year.

Ledyard formed its independent police department in 2016 after working for decades under the resident trooper program.

Norwich police will present its proposal to the town at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Town Hall. The Emergency Services Advisory Committee is expected to give its report on police coverage options and a possible recommendation to the Board of Selectmen by April 15, Co-Chairman David Paige said.

Rich called a potential partnership between Ledyard and Preston “a good fit,” saying the towns have similar concerns and demographics. Ledyard also has been providing emergency dispatch services for Preston for the past 15 years.

The proposed plan would have Ledyard police officers regularly patrol Preston on all three shifts seven days a week, in two shifts extending existing patrols from Ledyard into the southern portions of Preston. The third patrol would cover all the areas from Route 2 north throughout the town of Preston.

A fourth patrol would be added daily during the busy evening shift, from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Rich said.

The regular patrols would be supplemented with additional officers during major incidents, planned events — such as the Foxwoods Resort Casino's Revolution Rock Festival that premiered last fall — and major weather events, Creutz said.

The projected cost totals included four officers' salaries and medical benefits, estimated for two entry-level officers and two with experience, their uniforms, patrol vehicles, radios and protective equipment. Finkelstein said the preliminary costs include items that would be expected to last for several years, including the vehicles, uniforms and some equipment.

Preston officials suggested some of those costs could be spread out in a multiyear contract. Congdon, however, asked that the committee delay specific discussions of costs — including overtime provisions, liability insurance, salaries and benefits — for possible future closed-door contract negotiations.

Rich said if the two towns do reach an agreement for police coverage, Ledyard police would attend Emergency Services Advisory Committee meetings and would give monthly reports to the Board of Selectmen.

Preston's current budget for police coverage is $322,684 for the two resident troopers.

Rich said Ledyard police officials have tested portable and mobile radio coverage in various spots in Preston and found adequate reception in all areas. He noted, however, that the test was done “on a clear day with no leaves on the trees.” A future test is planned for later this year.

Congdon said any discussion of future police coverage would have to take into account the proposed plans by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority to develop a major entertainment, sports, residential and resort complex on the grounds of the former Norwich Hospital in Preston.

“Four years from now, we're going to be in a different place,” Congdon said, showing the Ledyard representatives a conceptual master plan for the 393-acre former Norwich Hospital property. While parts of the proposed development might have private security, emergency services for the entire area would be the responsibility of the town, Congdon said.

Town officials continue to await completion of a proposed purchase and sales agreement between the tribe and town, said to be delayed by technical issues being worked out by attorneys from both parties. Once an agreement is reached, the remaining environmental cleanup is expected to take a year before actual development could begin.

c.bessette@theday.com