A community meeting to discuss the potential Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills police department merger is set for Thursday night, Sept. 27, according to a joint release from the villages of Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills sent out Wednesday afternoon.

"The two communities have been working over the past year to study the feasibility and potential annual operating cost reduction of a consolidated police department and have worked to develop governance and staffing models for the potential partnership," the release reads. "The meeting is intended to provide additional informationon the concept and to get feedback from residents of both communities."

The meeting will take place in the Hinsdale Central High School auditorium.

Research is still ongoing and community feedback is still being sought, the release says, and a final decision will be made by the two village's boards in the next several months. 

"The goal of the consolidation is to reduce the annual operating costs of both departments while maintaining current patrol staffing and service levels. If the consolidation is implemented, both communities are committed to completing it without any layoffs of current staff. Both communities believe there is no other way to bring as great of a cost reduction without impacting service levels at this time."

Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills are still working to get the state government's approval to make such an unprecedented move and get the Fraternal Order of Police union on board. 

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is providing financial assistance, through a grant, to the villages' effort to merge departments.

Read more about the potential Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills police department merger:

• Village Leaders Visit Springfield to Discuss Police Merger
• Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills Get $70,000 Grant for Police Merger
• PD Merger Only Part of Clarendon Hills' Fiscal Plan
• Potential Police Merger a 'Natural Fit' for Hinsdale
• Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills Considering Police Department Merger

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