Police service will continue regardless of what Springfield Township voters decide about the .75 mill increase in the Aug. 7 election.
However, a defeat would affect follow-ups on smaller crimes, said Sergeant Matt Baldes, commander of the Springfield Township sheriff’s substation.
“Major crimes will get the same attention they always have, but there may not be enough time to give smaller crimes a lot of attention,” Baldes said. ‘If it were not to pass, then we would likely lose an officer out of this sub-station.?
Springfield Township Board discussed 0.6 to 1 mill, based on how much service to provide and what to do with fund reserves, before settling on .75. The board discussed deleting the detective position to avoid decreasing the number of officers on the road.
“If the detective position were to go, it certainly would not cripple the police service in any way,” Baldes said. “The difference is that the job would be split up among others who work at the station and time would need to be used differently.”
As a resident of Springfield Township, he wants the best service he can get, and keeping all the current officers is the way to do that, he said.
“Sheriff Bouchard is deeply committed to providing quality police service for this area,? said Baldes. “The sheriff also wants to make sure he continues providing the services he has promised.”
The township contracts with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for police service. The millage would run from 2012-2015, when it would be combined with a 0.7289 police millage for a single renewal vote. Another 1.5 mill for police services, approved in 2006, expires in 2017. One mill is $1 for each $1,000 of assessed property valuation, or one-half market value.
BY KRYSTEN COOPER
Special to the Clarkston News