The Ozark County Sheriff’s Office is now providing law enforcement services for the Village of Theodosia. The village’s board of directors approved the contract at its last meeting.
The new contract states the sheriff’s office will provide law enforcement of state and municipal statutes, as well as the Village’s ordinances, in addition to appearing and testifying on Village ordinance violations and maintaining records concerning activities and arrests within Theodosia’s city limits.
The Village has also secured the services of attorney Colin Young who will serve as the city prosecuting attorney, filing tickets and other charges for the violations against the village’s ordinances.
John Maglionie is the Chairman of the board of directors for the village. He says it has been a long time since they have had law enforcement in Theodosia.
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Maglionie says it was budget cuts that did away with the police department in Theodosia in 2012.
He says they are tightening the village’s belts to pay for the law enforcement.
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When it comes to the law enforcement, Maglionie says another concern for citizens in speed. The speed limit through Theodosia is 45 miles-per-hour and he worries about how fast traffic is in front of the Lutie school on Highway 160.
Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin says there are other problems as well his department will help with.
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Previously, the fine money went to the state, but fines for village ordinances will now go into the general revenue funds. Both Maglionie and Martin emphasized they are not approaching this as a revenue source for Theodosia.
The village has also agreed to allow the sheriff’s office to store their boat for easy access.
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Martin says his deputies are excited to work some extra shifts to patrol Theodosia and it won’t put any extra strain on his department.
He says the village is a wonderful community and they are glad to provide the service.
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The contract between Theodosia and the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office is for one year.
The sheriff’s office has had a similar contract with the city of Gainesville for approximately 15 years.
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