Hollingsworth added that the cost of Mechanicsburg’s police services were increasing.
“Before it was $25.10 per hour and it was going to be $29.30 (under the new contract),” Hollingsworth said.
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When other charges were added, the bill under the new contract became $158,322. Last year, the expenses were about $102,000, Hollingsworth explained.
The new chief of police for North Lewisburg is Scott Bodey.
“We’re just very glad he has joined our village as a full-time employee and we look forward to it,” Hollingsworth said.
Bodey has been a part of the Mechanicsburg police department since 2002 and worked his way through the ranks. He was captain for his last five years with the department.
“I’ve done a lot of the leg work, research into the village starting their own agency,” Bodey said. “I am just happy to be offered the opportunity up here. I look forward to working with Mayor Hollingsworth and all the other administrative staff and serving the community.”
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Bodey said that he has been in charge of policing North Lewisburg for the last three years during village’s contract with Mechanicsburg.
The North Lewisburg police department is expected to be established “very soon” - between two and six weeks, Bodey said.
The police department will operate 80 hours with five to six police officers. Their goal is to eventually become a full-time police department, Bodey said.
In the meantime, all law enforcement services in North Lewisburg will be provided by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone needing the services of the Sheriff’s Office may contact the Champaign County Communications Center at 937-653-3409 for non-emergency calls and 9-1-1 for all emergency calls.
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