An area head of a law-enforcement agency is going to be resigning.
According to a release from New Franklin Police Chief Mike Wise, ““I have had the support from the city council and mayor past and present. I consider all of them friends.
For the past several years, the city went to rural water in an effort to provide the best services to the citizens of New Franklin. Once the city changed to the new water services, the city found many leaks and the city crew (has) been working diligently in fixing the problem.”
The release continues….
“In January 2019, the city had no choice but to stop paying for employees’ insurance and benefits. The city elected to give all employees $300 to apply towards their own personal insurance. This amount was not even a third of what private insurance costs.
The city also had to make some hard choices because the city is losing money due to the water leaks. The city decided to cut my staff and only have two full-time officers. (In) April 2019, we lost the full-time officer, and with the financial crisis, the city elected not to fill that position. Thus it left me to patrol 24/7. I had to ask (Howard County) Sheriff (Mike) Neal to assist me in helping patrol.
During the January council meeting, I informed the council I was offered a conditional offer of employment pending the background check.
Once this is complete, I will be resigning my position as the New Franklin Police Chief.”
Wise has been Police Chief for about five years.