Monroe Board Considers Police Expansion Amid Town Service Talks

The Monroe Village Board is considering an Inter-Municipal Agreement to expand the Monroe Police Department to serve the Town of Monroe, which currently lacks its own police force and relies on state police. Village officials emphasize the need for an independent study to assess the impact of expanding police services, noting the necessity to hire more officers and acquire additional resources. Town Councilmember Maureen Richardson supports the idea but stresses the importance of community engagement and open forums to address policing concerns. Separately, law enforcement and election officials nationwide will use updated 2025 quick reference guides from the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections to better handle election security and voter protection. In South Africa, Cape Town is pushing ahead with plans to devolve policing powers from national to city control despite opposition criticism that it could lead to unequal law enforcement standards. Meanwhile, a UK petition urges the government to repeal recent Public Order and Police Acts, arguing they inhibit legitimate protest rights and may criminalize protest planning.