FOP: Miami Township in talks to disband police department

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) - Miami Township's Fraternal Order of Police President Mike Siney says the Township Trustees are in negotiations with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to take over police services and you should be concerned.

The police detective says close to 100,000 people are in Miami Township everyday.

And, he says, the possible disbanding of the police department would not only affect the people who live there, but also the people who shop at the Dayton Mall and eat at the dozens of restaurants in the area.

"Obviously there are some concerns with the way the negotiations are taking place because we have been given information that the other trustees had no knowledge that those negotiations were taking place. And, also that a bid was asked for from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office," explains Siney.

A 5-mill 5-year police services levy failed in November, but trustees voted to put another one on the ballot in May.

In the meantime, Siney says union members will do whatever is necessary to save the police department.

"The members are willing to take concessions to get us through this rough time period of the economy.  You don't get rid of your whole police department just because there's a few rough years," says Siney.

And people who come to the area tell 2 NEWS they're worried about their safety if the Township moves forward with any plan to disband its own police department.

"That's not a good idea.  Response time would probably be a lot slower.  They may be on something else and it would take awhile to come help somebody out," comments Steve Williams.

"The police department here is going to be right on top of things.  I've never seen anything really bad and when you come here you always see them here all the time so I don't think it's a good idea," explains Douglas Singer.

Siney is asking the public to show up and give their input at the next Miami Township Trustee Meeting on February 12 at 7 p.m. 

Miami Township Trustee President Deborah Preston tells 2 NEWS she can't discuss the issue at this time.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office couldn't be reached for comment. Currently, deputies from the sheriff’s office provide policing for Harrison, Jefferson and Washington Townships in Montgomery County.

News of the talks to possibly disband the police department came just days after detectives from the department began investigating a homicide.