Kansas Town Closes Cop Shop To Save Money

Nickerson could save a third of its budget and ease pressure on taxpayers

In a move to relieve pressure on the city budget, the Nickerson City Council voted 4-3 Monday evening to close the town's police department.

Voters in Nickerson, a central Kansas farming community, will get the chance during city elections in April to ratify or reject that decision. Reopening the department, with two full-time and seven part-time officers — as recommended by a former police chief — "will add three or four mills to our property taxes," predicts Mayor Jim Gladden.