The city of Odessa no longer has its own police department. Instead, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office will oversee law enforcement services in the city.
The change comes after the city held a special session Thursday, voting 5-1 to enter into a contract with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office.
“The investigation the city administrator pointed out Monday night brought out a lot of alarming concerns for the citizens and the police department in general,” Odessa Mayor Adam Couch told 41 Action News. “It came to a point where this was the best decision for the city moving forward.”
RELATED | Tensions high in Odessa as city discusses disbanding police
Crowds of Odessa residents watched as the city voted on the changes within minutes. Some neighbors, like Tonya Beeks, wore “Back our Blue” T-shirts in support of the Odessa police.
"All of this was a slap in our face. And a knife in our backs and definitely a disrespectful knife in our officers’ backs who just, at this meeting, when they voted, found out they have no jobs,” said Beeks.
According to the contract, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office will take over immediately. The sheriff will be responsible for assembling a full staff that will specifically respond to calls in the city. The team, according to the contract 41 Action News obtained, will include 1 lieutenant, 1 sergeant and 7 officers.
Lafayette County Sheriff's Office already parked outside the police station, contract is effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/nLD5LzkzLA
— Ariel Rothfield KSHB (@arothfield) August 26, 2016
The city will pay the county $41,926 a month for the deputies and $14,596 a year for insurance of vehicles, employees and liability. Costs associated with reserve and part-time officers will be paid for by the city as incurred. The city will also lease 5 of its police vehicles to the county for $1 a year.
"County needs to take care of county business. Every other city has local police department. We had a great one. We had a bad run of luck with a police chief that kind of drug us down but he’s no longer here,” said James Bara, who lives and works in the city.
Previous coverage:
- Odessa police chief on paid leave after being accused of injuring fellow officer
- Special prosecutor named in Odessa police chief case
- Odessa police chief reinstated, vandalism follows
- Odessa police chief resigns after reinstatement
- Tensions high in Odessa as city discusses disbanding police
Editor's note: A previous version listed the cost of insurance at $14,596 a month, this has been corrected to $14,596 a year.
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Ariel Rothfield can be reached at Ariel.Rothfield@KSHB.com.
