Group OKs Deputy Pullback

Tonitown Proposal Heads to Quorum Court

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

— Washington County sheriff’s deputies will pull back as Tontitown’s primary law enforcers within six months if the Quorum Court next week approves a proposal to discontinue a contract between the county and city.

Tim Helder
Tim Helder

By The Numbers

Patrol Costs

Tontitown paid Washington County the following amounts to patrol the city’s streets as primary a primary police force. The city originally contracted three deputies and currently pays for six.

2012* $226,603

2011 $282,860

2010 $226,557

2009 $273,767

2008 $189,699

2007 $180,934

2006 $164,866

2005 $$82,396

  • Payments as of Aug. 13

Source: Washington County Treasurer’s Office

The Jail/Law Enforcement Committee Tuesday unanimously approved Sheriff Tim Helder’s proposal and moved the issue to this month’s Quorum Court meeting.

Helder last month sent a letter to county officials and Tontitown officials about his move to discontinue a seven-year contract that provides six full-time deputies to serve as the city’s police force.

“We would treat them as we do any other small town, or any town in fact,” Helder said Monday. “Anybody in need of assistance, we’ll respond if it’s an emergency. Overall protection for anything within the city limits would ultimately be theirs.”

The manpower and cost to operate a Tontitown street patrol increased since the contract began in 2005 causing strain on the Tontitown deputies, he said last month. Other deputies are regularly called for support during busy times, he said.

Helder told justices of the peace Tuesday the timing couldn’t be better to discontinue the contract which began in 2005 because Tontitown deputies will fill in the vacancies in the sheriff’s patrol division working outside the city.

The contract gives a six-month period the sheriff must maintain deputies at the city when the Quorum Court approves the contract’s discontinuation.

Tontitown Mayor Tommy Granata said Monday he’s given some thought into the creation of a new police force but has not started any concrete moves, until he hears word about the full Quorum Court’s decision.

“I think we could probably have a completely new department in six months,” Granata said. “I guess you can say we welcome the challenge to form a new police department and we’ll do a good job at it.”

This year, the city’s budget for police is $376,592, which includes almost $292,000 in deputy salaries and benefits, Granata said last month. The city owns all vehicles and most equipment used by the deputies, the mayor said.

County treasury records show the city paid $82,396 to Washington County in 2005 for three full-time deputies. Last year, the city paid $282,860 and $226,603 as of Aug. 13.

“I read through (Helder’s) letter and I paid attention to the press on this as well,” said Justice of the Peace Mary Ann Spears, a committee member. “It seems this is what Tontitown and their mayor thinks is best for them and I think we should support it. I’ll certainly support it.”