Treasure Island to Keep Police

After brief deliberation, the Treasure Island City Commission recently decided to keep the city's police department and not switch services to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

According to minutes from its June 4 commission meeting, City Commissioner Tim Ramsberger brought up the idea to the city.

"Commissioner Ramsberger stated that he would like to explore it," the report said. "He has heard that it was well received in St. Pete Beach. He would like to see what it would mean to (Treasure Island) economically and in terms of services."

Mayor Robert Minning told the commission the reason St. Pete Beach switched to the sheriff's office was because of pension issues and that Treasure Island's circumstances are far different. 

Commissioner Phil Collins, according to the meeting minutes, said it has been talked about in the past and Treasure Island citizens are in favor of keeping their own police department.  

If the commission were to switch to the sheriff's office, it would first have to vote to disband the police department. Then, according to the city, it would have to be approved by a public vote.

The commission, according the meeting minutes, did not want to send the issue to the ballot without a citizen's petition. 

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