Wellston disbands police department, contracts with Vinita Park
The streets of the city of Wellston are now being patrolled by a new police department.
The Wellston City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to disband its police department and contract for services with Vinita Park, a tiny municipality a few miles to the west.
"The decision to disband our police department was a very difficult one for me," said Wellston Mayor Nathaniel Griffin. "There were several factors that were considered and they all led to the same conclusion. This is also difficult because there are some good people who have worked in our department, several I consider friends."
The contract should result in significant savings for Wellston, though Griffin did not know the exact amount. A copy of the contract was not made immediately available for review; it was negotiated in part by Ferguson city council member Wesley Bell, who is also a municipal judge in Velda City and the municipal prosecutor in Riverview.
http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/wellston-disbands-police-department-contracts-vinita-park
