MAINEVILLE — This Warren County village of about 1,000 could be losing its police department soon.

        At a crowded meeting Tuesday, village council gave the second of three required readings of an ordinance to dissolve Maineville's police department. The ordinance could be approved next month.

        “It's just basically coming down to a financial matter,” said Maineville Mayor Shawn Tegtmeier. “We're just kind of strapped for money in the police department.”

        The now one-man department has been under fire for more than a year, Police Chief Joe Lane said.

        In January, 2000, council voted to decrease Chief Lane's $28,000 annual salary by $7,000.

        About six months later, council eliminated the chief's benefits, cut him to 15 hours a week to be paid at $10 per hour and laid off the village's six part-time patrol officers, who were making only $1 a year.

        “We were providing pretty close to 24-hour coverage,” Chief Lane said. “They were not costing them any money.”

        The village is in negotiations with Hamilton Township to provide police protection to Maineville, the mayor said.

        Many of the about 30 people at the meeting applauded the chief.

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