Milaca Police Department sees changes in staff
Posted 7/3/03

The deputy chief position is eliminated from the Milaca Police Department, while the school will see a new police liaison officer.

Shelly Milton, the Milaca Public School Police Liaison Officer, resigned from the police department June 30.

³Iım not happy about seeing her leave,² police chief Mike Mott said of Milton. ³She has an excellent work ethic.²

Mille Lacs County Deputy Todd Quaintance has resigned from the sheriffıs office after two years, and will begin working for the Milaca Police Department July 1.

Quaintance was the liaison officer in Isle this past year and will be replacing Milton as Milacaıs police liaison officer when school begins.

Mott is familiar with his work as Quaintance was with the police department for over two years before going to the sheriffıs office.

³Heıs an experienced, veteran officer and heıs also trained in the D.A.R.E. program,² Mott said. ³He fits the bill, can slide right in and hit the ground running.²

Quaintance is happy to be working in Milaca again. He has filled in for Milton at the school when he was previously with the department.

³I really liked working with the kids in Milaca and I thought it would be a good opportunity to work with the kids here,² Quaintance said. ³I missed working with the people in Milaca as well.²

Quaintance chose to resign his post as school board member.

³Technically, I wouldnıt have to [resign] because Iım not an employee of the school district,² Quaintance said.

³But I felt to eliminate the appearance of a conflict, it would be the best thing. Also, it will be easier to work down at the school.²

Deputy chief eliminated

Due to budget cuts, the Milaca Deputy Chief of Police position was eliminated this month.

Kimberly Wood was hired in January as the deputy chief.

³That certainly puts us a person short. We still have to find ways to cover those hours, especially after school starts,² Mott said.

³Weıll work around it and do the best we can until the city gets back on its feet.²

Though itıs tough to lose staff, Mott admits Milacaıs police department is in a much better position than Foleyıs department, which is now non-existent because of budget cuts.

³Thatıs a lot less than losing a whole department. I think that would be a huge mistake,² Mott added.

The Benton County Sheriffıs Department is now handling the responsibility of Foley, but the counties are having to deal with budget cuts of their own.

Mott said the Mille Lacs County Sheriffıs Office will assist the Milaca Police Department as they always have.

³Theyıve always been really good about helping us out. I donıt anticipate any problems there,² Mott said.

³Weıll get through it.²