BOLIVAR, W.Va. – Members of the Bolivar town council heard feedback during their monthly meeting Tuesday regarding their recent decision to discontinue funding the local Harpers Ferry Police Department.
More than a dozen public comments pointed to a detrimental loss of police protection. The council voted 3-2 Aug. 26 to cease funding the department effective at midnight Aug. 31.
Bolivar and Harpers Ferry have been in negotiations regarding police funding for more than a year.
Bolivar offered $170,000 in funding dollars but Harpers Ferry demanded $234,000, Bolivar Mayor Helen Detmer said. She said the town could not fund at that level and remain solvent.
Police protection for Harpers Ferry has now moved to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dougherty has said his officers will patrol the town during day and night hours as they do elsewhere in the county.