NORTH PRAIRIE, Wis. — People living in North Prairie could permanently lose their local police department after a special village board meeting was called to vote on dissolving it.
A sign posted inside North Prairie Village Hall reads that the police department is currently inactive. Tuesday's vote could make that permanent.
The department has been without active officers since April, when the police chief retired. Before that, the department had 11 part-time officers. Since then, about half resigned and the other half took a leave of absence as the village debated what to do with the police force.
The special board meeting was called with the recommendation to "dissolve the North Prairie Police Department." When that news went public Friday, it drew concern from residents and a former village trustee.
"It is a safety issue," Cheri Lampe said.
Lampe, who served on the village board and finished her term in May, said she voted to fund the police department before leaving office.
"It is not that we don't have money we are budgeted for our police department," Lampe said.
Lampe and other residents say the decision should not rest solely with the village board.
"To truly represent the people, it should go to referendum," Lampe said.
Resident Skip Smeiska agreed.
"I like having a police presence. I like seeing them go down the street in the neighborhoods. It is just comforting," Smeiska said.
"I think they should have a public referendum to get an opinion of people," Smeiska said.
Resident John Hoppe said dissolving the department would hurt those who need help most.
"I personally think it puts the person in need at a disadvantage," Hoppe said.
I reached out to Village President Dan Miresse, who said in a statement he is unable to speak for the village board and will leave his commentary about the issue to the meeting itself. He suggests everyone who can attend do so.
If the department is dissolved, police response in North Prairie would come from outside the village.
The special board meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. In addition to the vote on dissolving the police department, the board will also discuss changing who oversees the fire department.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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