Some Wisconsin police departments are in merger talks as a cost-saving measure in light of state imposed levy limits. The Wausau and Everest Metro police chiefs in central Wisconsin have met three times to discuss merging the two departments. Wausau Chief Jeff Hardel says a merger would allow the departments to increase coverage and develop more specialized units like major crimes and a traffic division. But Everest Metro Chief Dan Vergin admits the idea might be a hard sell in the departments and to the communities, although the merger idea would help save money in the long run. Appleton and Grand Chute police leaders are also in merger talks. Everest Metro is itself a merged department – the combination of the Weston and Schofield police departments in 1993.
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