Waterford town votes to disband police department and contract with sheriff's office

The Town of Waterford voted to disband its Police Department and will now contract with the Racine County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement. This decision follows a year of staffing issues and internal investigations within the police department. Village trustees met to discuss future policing options after the town's vote. They expressed surprise at the decision, as previous discussions indicated a desire for collaboration between the town and village on policing matters. The Waterford Police Department will remain operational until the last full-time officer leaves, with a six-month timeline for transition. Village officials are forming a committee to gather resident input on future policing solutions.