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Lucas council faces residents’ concerns as it moves forward on creating a city police department
Summary
At a March 5 Lucas City Council meeting, residents pressed councilors for more financial detail and public input on a proposed Lucas Police Department. Councilors and the incoming chief defended the plan as a response to coverage limits from the sheriff’s office and said they will hold a town hall April 7 and continue studying costs and staffing.
Lucas City Council convened March 5 to hear extensive public comment and debate on the proposal to form a Lucas Police Department, a topic that drew dozens of residents and sustained discussion across the meeting.
Supporters on the council said the move is driven by growth and by limits to county coverage. Council members and police leadership said the city can afford a modest initial department and that the new force would provide local control and faster, dedicated response times. Chief Doug Kowalski, who has been engaged in planning, described a start-up staffing model that would include eight full-time officers (the chief, a supervisor and patrol staff), rotating shifts to provide 24/7 coverage, use of…
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