Residents Split on Local Police vs Sheriff Coverage
- Trinity Gruenberg
- 55 minutes ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Verndale City Council held a public hearing to discuss the future of the local police department, considering whether to maintain the department or contract services with the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
The city was presented with three options: continue with a part-time city police force, contract for 30 hours of service per week with the county or rely solely on the county for emergency response.
The public indicated that the last option was not acceptable.
Wadena County Sheriff Mike Carr explained the nationwide staffing shortages in law enforcement. Verndale previously had a full-time police chief and officers but now operates with a part-time chief and part-time officers, resulting in reduced coverage.
Carr explained that the city of Verndale budgeted $141,630 in 2024 for just over 35 hours of weekly service. The sheriff’s office offered a contract for 30 hours per week at $101,400, reflecting a savings of $40,000. Carr shared that while the Verndale Police Department (VPD) covered 1,848 hours, the sheriff’s office handled 6,936 hours in 2024.
It was noted by the council that Sheriff Carr’s budget overview was based on 50 hours of police coverage per week. However, Verndale currently only has 30 hours of coverage due to staffing limitations. A third part-time officer was added earlier this year, and another may be hired to expand coverage...
