The existence of the Owego Police Department is in jeopardy after a Tuesday night village board meeting. Trustees voted 5-2 to apply for a grant to cover the initial costs of doing away with the department. Fox 40 is taking a closer look at what that would mean for the future of policing in the village.

The proposed grant application involves a consolidation of services between OPD, and the Tioga County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office would provide coverage for an annual cost to the village of $405,000.

As part of this proposed contract, four of OPD's six current full-time members would become full-time sheriff's deputies. The sheriff's office would open a sub-station in the village, which would be staffed by two deputies 24-hours a day, seven days a week. According to the grant application, this sharing of services would save the village $500,000 a year, and allow for greater, more efficient police coverage.

But Phoebe Morris, who was one of two trustees to vote against the consolidation, says there is no substitute for the Owego police officers who know this small village inside and out.

"This is community policing at it's best, and i really don't want to see that go away," Morris, of the Rebuild Owego party, said. "I value the sheriff's department. I value the back-up that they give us. I value what they do. But they can't do the same job, the same way that the Owego Police Department does." 

Morris also says the change doesn't make sense financially for the village. She says according to the village's current budget, it costs $228,000 a year to staff four OPD officers.

Morris fears the department could be dissolved before the issue goes to referendum for a public vote next March.

Fox 40 reached out those in favor of the consolidation for comment -- Mayor Steve May was out of town, and calls to two village trustees were not immediately returned. 

Sheriff Gary Howard was also unavailable Wednesday.

The proposal needs agreement from the sheriff's office to move forward. The Tioga County Legislature will meet for a special meeting Thursday at 1 p.m., to decide whether to co-sign the grant.