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Libby council extends sheriff MOU amid public questions about staffing; officer publicly sworn in
Summary
Council approved an extension of its memorandum of understanding with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office to maintain coverage and training support; one council member said they would abstain and a resident criticized the city's approach to policing staffing. The meeting also publicly recognized the swearing-in of Officer Smart.
The City Council voted to extend its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office to continue using sheriff's staff for field officer training and to cover shifts the city cannot staff.
Mayor Williams moved the extension; the motion passed after a second. One council member stated they would abstain before the vote. The council did not provide a roll-call tally tied to individual names in the record, but the chair announced the motion carried.
During public comment a nearby resident who identified a Nevada Avenue address criticized the city's public information about police staffing, questioned how many officers the city currently employs, and said the city should not be paying the sheriff "to do his job," because the sheriff is responsible for law enforcement within county limits.
The meeting also included a public swearing-in and recognition of Officer Smart, who was sworn in earlier the same morning. The chief described Smart as a local who served in the military and returned to serve as a police officer in Libby.
Why it matters: The MOU affects how the city meets public-safety needs when municipal staffing gaps occur. Public questions about transparency, staffing levels and investigations were raised during comment.
What happens next: The extended MOU will be signed and returned to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office for processing; councilors or staff did not establish a timeline for reporting on staffing numbers or investigations during the meeting.
