Melcher-Dallas Mayor Terry Fisher confirmed that the city council has decided to make a change in the community when it comes to police protection. 

The Melcher-Dallas council voted 4-0 to make Zachary Kalvig the new police chief at the meeting Tuesday, January 10. Kalvig graduated from the law enforcement academy in December.

Previously, Melcher-Dallas law enforcement protection was provided by Marion County at a cost of $6,000 per month. Fisher tells KNIA/KRLS News, the citizens of  Melcher-Dallas wanted their own police care. Fisher adds, “We just didn’t have the money to go with the county and our own deputy both. Our taxation general obligation, our taxation income just wouldn’t allow that.”

Fisher thanked the county sheriff for the support and coverage he gave the community while Kalvig was in the academy.

Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt tells KNIA/KRLS News he feels the best solution for the community would have been to have a contract with the Sheriff’s office as well as the new hire in order to provide 24/7/365 response to the community by an officer on duty. Sandholdt says  that his office will always respond to emergency situations to help keep the community safe regardless of whether there is a contract or not. Sheriff Sandholdt adds he feels that going from a police department with two full time officers not that long ago, then to a contract with the Sheriff’s office and one Melcher-Dallas officer, to now just one Melcher-Dallas officer, may result in a decrease in law enforcement services for the community in non-emergency situations.