Bethel Voters Say 'No' to New Police Station

Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker told Bethel Patch he was “very disappointed” with the results of the police station vote. According to the News Times, over 2,000 fliers opposing the new police station were distributed to Bethel residents last weekend.

“It may be that last-minute disinformation campaign that had an effect,” Knickerbocker said. “It’s hard to tell. Our police deserve better.”

Tuesday’s voter turnout was low, possibly due to weather conditions. Another factor that may not have helped was Tuesday’s vote was flooding blocked people from seeing the old police station due to road closures.

Bethel Chairman of the Board of Education Larry Craybas wrote a Letter to the Editor supporting the decision to build the new $14M station near the Bethel Educational Park. In another letter, a Bethel resident asked voters to vote no and criticized using the Sandy Hook tragedy to push their agenda.

The new police station failed by 69 votes. Taxpayers voted yes to pay $2.4M to build a water tank in the Long Ridge neighborhood, and yes to spend $4.3M for a new energy services contract.

How do you feel about Tuesday’s vote? Tell us in the comments.

Voting results are as follows:

Water Tank:

• Yes - 1,283
• No - 480

Energy Services:

• Yes - 977
• No - 785

Police Station

• Yes - 857
• No -926