BIRCH RUN -- Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel is setting the record straight.
"It is not my intention to police the city of Saginaw," Federspiel said.
He was asked to provide numbers: How many officers and how much it would cost to take over the Saginaw Police Department?
"I presented numbers, but from this point on, I want to let everyone know I am not negotiating with the city," Federspiel said.
Federspiel's plan calls for more than 105 sworn-in officers at the cost of $9 million the first year to take over operations. It's a lower operating cost, but critics say it's not what the city needs.
"I certainly am not endorsing the idea of the sheriff taking over," said David Kuhn of the Police Officers Association of Michigan. "I don't think it will work."
Saginaw City Concilman Andrew Wendy says: "The citizens want the badge on their arms and their shoulders to say Saginaw PD. That's what they want."
Council members have yet to see the plan. It will be up to them to determine whether it's finacially viable for the city.
"I heard, like, 100 more officers, and that's more than we have, but right now with the economy, where that leaves us financially to pay for it," Wendt said.
Federspiel says he's done his job; now it's up to the city and police union to work out their differences.
"The citizens of Saginaw have repeatedly say they want their own agency," Federspiel said. "It's not incumbent on me to insert myself between the citizens and their police department."
