Glen Oaks considering partnership with sheriff’s department

St. Joseph County officials are mulling whether to enter an agreement with Glen Oaks Community College regarding law-enforcement coverage at the Centreville-area school.

During Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Executive Committee meeting, undersheriff Jason Bingaman provided details of the potential agreement.

He said college officials are interested in a three-year partnership with the sheriff’s department.

Bingaman noted the Sherman Township-based college is in a rural setting, just far enough out of Centreville, Sturgis and Three Rivers to prevent response in a matter of seconds, should circumstances warrant an immediate need for law enforcement.

Bingaman said a draft of a contract is being reviewed by college officials. He said the first year of the proposed three-year deal would cost the school $92,000.

The job would be a year-round obligation.