Sheriff talks Wakeman PD takeover

WAKEMAN — The Huron County Sheriff's Office clarified its stance on the possible disbandment of the Wakeman Police Department and the sheriff's assumption of law enforcement duties within the village on a full-time basis. According to sheriff's Chief Deputy Dave Ditz, former Wakeman interim police Chief Matthew Olexa had approached the department to formulate the proposal. According to Ditz, the sheriff believed the proposed changes were known to Wakeman village administrators. "It was my impression that (Olexa) requested this information for someone in the village," Ditz said. "Once we gave him the information he requested, we have no idea who he presented it to." When the proposal was presented to Wakeman Mayor Christopher Hipp at the most recent county commission meeting, Hipp said it was the first time he had seen it. Ditz said he was "surprised (Hipp) was surprised" and told Hipp he believed the proposal was prepared at the village's request. Hipp told the Reflector he was not aware of the proposal and felt "ambushed" at the meeting. Ditz contends that the department is not "trying to form a kingdom" but is instead concerned about the village's lack of sufficient police coverage during uncovered shifts. Ditz expressed worry that the limited number of deputies covering the county, which he says are already stretched to their limit, would be overwhelmed if they needed to respond to every call for assistance in the village. "If we only have two or three deputies on duty and (if) Wakeman is uncovered, we have to absorb another village we have to respond to," Ditz said. When a Wakeman officer is on duty, the sheriff's office does not usually respond to calls in the village, Ditz said. The proposal The proposal, shared with the Reflector by the sheriff's office, calls for the disbandment of the Wakeman Police Department and the assumption of their duties by three or four deputies dedicated to policing in the village. According to the proposal, the entire cost of the additional deputies would be billed to Wakeman. The proposal shows an initial outlay of approximately $85,000 per deputy, and the yearly budget for four deputies would be roughly $327,500 overall. Ditz contends that amount would include all inmate services at the county jail, which are paid for by village funds under the current agreement. According to Hipp, the current amount allocated to law enforcement in the village is about $250,000. According to Ditz, if successful, a shake-up within the village department, which Hipp told the Reflector earlier this week was happening, could make the acquisition of the village department unnecessary. Changes Hipp pointed out that the department has made some changes in the past weeks, a plan he calls "restructuring." These include commissioning a new captain, Harun Abdul-Ali, and hiring Pablo Cruz, a 12-year department veteran, as police chief. Hipp also touted a 17% raise the village gave to officers across the board recently. "We expect, with the changes we have made and will make, that the shifts we were short will now be covered," Hipp said. "We should have less need for the sheriff to cover these things." Hipp maintains that the village will fix the underlying issues and that it is unequivocal that the village "keep their police department."