DeWitt board approves police-services contract with East Syracuse [Video]

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DeWitt Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko speaks at a February meeting in East Syracuse on the agreement for police services between the town of DeWitt and the village of East Syracuse.

(Sarah Moses | [email protected])

The DeWitt Town Board has approved a contract with the village of East Syracuse to provide police services if the village votes to eliminate its police force. The board voted 5-2 at a special meeting held Friday.

The East Syracuse Village Board voted March 3 to abolish its police department and contract with the town of DeWitt for police services, subject to a public referendum set for April 2.

DeWitt Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko said the four-year contract calls for East Syracuse to pay the town $375,000 each year to provide police coverage to the village. The town would hire East Syracuse’s five full-time police officers and designate an officer to cover the village.