November 4, 2012 Heading out on their own By SCOTT SCHWEBKE Standard-Examiner staff sschwebke@standard.net 105 West Haven, Hooper creating joint police department after sheriff's negotiations fall apart City officials of West Haven and Hooper are working quietly to establish a joint police department instead of contracting with the Weber County Sheriff's Office. Weber County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Klint Anderson said the Hooper City Council discussed forming a police department in a Thursday night work session. Anderson said he is unsure how many officers would be hired by the department or the budget for the agency. "I don't know what they are going to do," he said. "We wish them the best. Both Hooper and West Haven are considering the joint department because their current service contracts with the sheriff's office are up for renewal next year and their costs would increase dramatically under a proposal by Sheriff Terry Thompson. Contract costs for the eight municipalities that contract for sheriff's services have been adjusted slightly over the last decade but haven't kept pace with service costs, population increases and a reduction in grant funds. West Haven would have seen the greatest increase in its contract, going from $354,100 to $844,837 per year. Hooper's contract would have risen from $279,867 to $453,914. Hooper Mayor Korry Green said Friday the city council has authorized him to gather information about establishing a police department with West Haven, but he declined to elaborate. "It's in the very infant stages and to say anything else would be premature," he said. The Standard-Examiner obtained a letter Green provided to the Hooper City Council, outlining his proposal for the joint department. combined Contract amounts police Read the letters frc a Weber County commissioner, the Weber County sheriff and West Haven's mayor at www.standard.net The first number is the proposed contract amount; the second is the current contract amount. • Huntsville: $52,626; $28,590 • Marriott-Slaterville: $206,582; $190,927 • Farr West: $433,359; $270,122 • Plain City: $354,939; $279,068 • Washington Terrace: $780,981; $834,255 • Hooper: $453,914; $279,867 • West Haven: $844,837; $354,100 • Uintah: $105,327; $68,267 WPP force would probably be seven to nine officers with at least two on duty most of the time," the letter states. "This means we would have one in Hooper most of the time and surely when we need him/her as they would never be more than a few miles away. "I also believe having a police car that says Hooper on the side of it will make our citizens feel better about the city, security and services. We would also have officers that we would have a working relationship with and I find great value in that." Green expressed some dissatisfaction with the level of service currently provided to Hooper by the sheriff's office. "We occasionally see a sheriff truck in the city but I don't feel like we have a police presence like we used to," 105