By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – There seem to be more questions than answers in the police protection issue in Niles Township, according to one candidate for supervisor.
Niles City police officer Jim Kidwell, 57, got interested in the whole question of how to provide police coverage, when he headed a citizen's committee four years ago.
At that time, a millage vote fell 100 short, he said.
The township contracted with the Berrien County Sheriff's Department and that contract will be up in December, just before a new supervisor will take office.
Kidwell is running against David Spurlock, 58, a former reserve officer for the county and Kevin Tonkin, township trustee.
Spurlock ran for township supervisor four years ago and lost to current Supervisor William Myers by 77 votes. Myers has announced he will not seek re-election.
The issue of the police department has plagued the board for years and residents have never been given real answers to the decisions that were made," Kidwell said.
Police protection is vital to businesses in the township and to attract new ones, he added.
Kidwell questioned a recent quote of Myers which stated if a 1.5 mill does not pass, then "we will not have police protection in Niles Township."
"Does this mean there are no other alternatives?" Kidwell said
"Even if a new board decides not to contract with a police agency, we still live in a county as well as a state, both of which provide some protection. This would not be an ideal situation, but it is not appropriate to use this as a scare tactic to get residents to support the millage," Kidwell added.
Everything comes down to "dollars and cents," and not whether the Sheriff's department is doing a good job.
"I appreciate the work that the Sheriff's department does in the township."
In submitting numbers he said are the ones actually submitted by the county and city, he said the residents can see for themselves in "black and white." Kidwell said the quotes from the Niles City Police department and the Berrien County Sheriff's Department look quite similar, but cannot be compared as "apples to apples," as the Niles City quote is for nine officers, as compared to the Sheriff's department for seven.
If Niles submitted a quote for two less officers, "the savings would be tremendous," he said, approximately $120,000 a year.
His figures quoted for 2008 were $755,779 from Niles for nine officers and $731,651 from the Sheriff's department, for seven. Quotes from the two prior year were also close, but again with two less officers.
He questions how Myers could come up with a $100,000 savings and also say the services would have been the same.
According to Kidwell, the Niles City Police Chief Ric Huff did a survey and felt more than seven officers would be needed.
While Kidwell was on the citizens' committee looking into the police situation, his said being a Niles police officer did not make a difference. "My chief never approached me. It was all my own doing."
Still concerned about providing this important service to the township residents and businesses, "I thought if I get in there maybe I can do something," he added.
If there is no police or fire coverage, it becomes a big deal when one is locating a new business, he added.
"There are other options out there to bring the township unity and get this police issue over," he said.
"I would hope my opponent, David Spurlock … would not automatically vote based on his associations either. As supervisor, I will encourage the board to compare bids given to the township by all interested departments," Kidwell said.
"It will be of utmost importance that all accepted bids be for the same amount of men, coverage hours and supplies. Once the bids are in, they will be evaluated by all board members in an open board meeting with the public invited. This is not how it has been done in the past.
After his active participating in campaigning for a safety millage in 2005, Kidwell said, "the voice of the people was heard. The citizens of the Niles Charter Township did not want to raise their taxes to pay for police protection.
"Hearing this information, I see that it is important to find a cost-effective solution that will stay within the restraints of the current budget."
Though the position of supervisor is considered part-time, Kidwell said it is one which is "vital to the community" and he would "give the required amount of hours that it takes to get the job done right."