Burgin In Discussion About Harrodsburg Taking Over Local Police
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Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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The City of Burgin is in talks with the City of Harrodsburg about having the Harrodsburg Police Department take over policework in Burgin. Mayor Joe Monroe told the Burgin City Council about the negotiations at a special-called meeting on Friday, Aug. 23. Monroe said the city had received “zero” applications for the open position of chief of Burgin’s one-man police department. Monroe said he was in talks with Harrodsburg about their taking over.
“We’re working on that,” Monroe said Friday night.
For over two decades, Burgin relied on one police officer, Chief Jim Caldwell, who was fired by former Mayor George Hensley in 2017. Caldwell sued the city and won the mayoral election in 2018. Since then, there has been a steady succession of officers, all of whom have moved on. The most recent chief, Brian Hassall, left Burgin’s employ earlier this year.
Monroe said he hopes to have something to show the city council at their next meeting. While deputies from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office patrol Burgin as well as the rest of the county, Monroe said the sheriff’s office has recently lost three deputies. He said the Kentucky State Police told him a trooper would patrol Burgin as much as he could.
“We might have to look at what else we can do,” the mayor said. One possible solution was to raise the salary. The council discussed possibly being able to augment the policeman’s pay using alcohol funds if the current initiative to make Burgin wet is successful. Monroe noted only a certain amount of money could be used for police salaries if Burgin goes wet.
Councilman Sindicat “Sid” Dunn said he’s spoken with other departments. He discussed having a facility open for HPD and MCSO officers.
“I talk to them on a regular basis,” Mayor Monroe said. “They do not want it.”
“It makes our town a little bit safer,” Dunn said. The former police chief’s office is currently used as a storage unit. “It’s dilapidated,” Dunn said.
Councilman Jamie Keebortz objected to refurbishing an office when they didn’t have anyone to use it.
“Set it aside and let us build a decent city hall and incorporate a police department,” Keebortz said.
