City manager: Hartford reviewing options for PD amid ‘staffing issues’

HARTFORD, Mich. (WOOD) — The Hartford city manager says the city is considering options for its police department, which has been struggling with staffing issues.

The city commission was previously set to hold a special meeting on Monday, July 29 at 5:30 p.m. “for the purpose of abolishing the police department,” according to notices that went out.

That meeting was canceled Thursday afternoon, according to City Manager Nicol Brown. Ever since notices went out, she said the city has gotten calls from residents who are concerned about not having police protection.

Brown confirmed that the city’s police force is still working — albeit “stretched thin,” with few members.

“Our police department has had staffing issues for several years. While we have worked to increase pay and benefits to become more competitive, we still struggle with turnover and leadership issues,” she wrote in a release. “We recently parted ways with our current chief and have appointed an interim while we consider our next steps.”

Brown told News 8 that the former police chief, Michael Prince, was let go on Wednesday, and Phil Lucas was named interim chief.

“We decided to go in a different direction,” Brown said in a message to News 8. “We appreciate (Prince’s) years of service.”

Prince stepped in as interim chief in early 2023 , after former chief Tressa Beltran stepped down amid a drug investigation. Beltran was sentenced last month to prison after pleading to two felonies. Authorities say she stole drugs from a disposal box at the police department.

Amid the police department’s struggles, Brown told News 8 that the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office and tribal police have been helping out in Hartford for some time.

She explained that the city is now considering its options, one of which involves phasing out the police department in exchange for contracting services from the sheriff’s office. The goal was to discuss that possibility at the now-canceled special meeting on Monday.

“We apologize for the poorly worded notice of this meeting and have decided to put the matter on hold temporarily,” Brown wrote in the release.

She noted that if the city commission were to vote in favor of a contract for police services with the county, Hartford residents would get to vote on it.

“The city remains committed to ensuring Hartford remains a safe, secure place to live, work and raise a family,” the release concluded.

— News 8’s Meghan Bunchman contributed to this report.

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