A large group of citizens filled the meeting room at Marthasville City Hall Wednesday, June 21. There were so many gathered for the 7 p.m. board of aldermen meeting that people had to find extra chairs or stand in the hallway outside the room.Most of the residents were there to voice concerns with the recent dissolution of the city’s police department and firing of Police Chief Gene Jenkins.“I was first shocked. I was disappointed,” said resident Mike Day. “I don’t understand why it was done behind closed doors.”Day said Chief Jenkins and Officer E. Ray House, who resigned in April, had looked after the children of the town and kept them safe. They also enforced the city’s ordinances, kept the town looking nice and made citizens feel more secure, he said.Day, along with a number of other residents, expressed skepticism that the Warren County Sheriff’s Department could provide the rapid response citizens had come to expect with a local officer on duty.Many people said they are afraid the city will now be vulnerable to the spread of crime.“I’ve been a police officer in St. Louis County for about six years,” said Lucas Lowe, who moved to Marthasville two years ago.“I’ve seen what happens when crime slowly creeps into a community. Kids get on drugs, all these different things . . . We want the police department back.”Multiple people said Mayor David Lange told them on several previous occasions that rumors of disbanding the police department were not true. Another sentiment expressed multiple times was that city leaders had not been acting in the best interest of citizens.“I really wish you guys would start thinking of us and stop thinking of yourselves, because you work for us,” said Rachel Damschroeder.Few seemed willing to show support for the mayor and aldermen, but one woman replied with a tongue-in-cheek response to suggestions that the city will devolve into a state of crime.“Sounds to me like we need an army of policemen,” Brenda Daniels said. “I didn’t know our town was this murderous, violent town . . . Can we have an officer for every house, every street, one at the school, one at the ballpark, one at the church, everywhere in town, 24/7?”Although the room became rowdy at times, a few of the speakers reminded other attendees to remain civil.“I want to commend (Mayor Lange) and the board of aldermen for opening this to the public, knowing full well there will probably be some negative comments,” said Judith Moorefield. “Hopefully, the community in Marthasville can come together and resolve whatever problems they have.”Mayor speaksMayor Lange has maintained a policy of not answering questions directed at the board during public comments, and did not deviate from that policy on Wednesday night. Although Lange declined to answer any specific questions, he did read from a prepared statement in response to the concerns.“The city was already relying on the Warren County Sheriff’s Department for primary law enforcement,” Lange said in the statement, adding that the sheriff’s department was on call even when Marthasville officers were off duty.“Moving forward, Warren County Sheriff’s Department will provide law enforcement . . . without any additional cost to the city and its taxpayers,” he said. “This will result in a financial benefit to our city on both a short-term and long-term basis.”Lange added that the board of aldermen “will take any and all of these concerns under consideration on this matter.”Aldermen Dan Grafrath, East Ward, and Christopher DeVore, West Ward, remained silent through most of the public commentary. East Ward Alderman Nick Lange was absent.West Ward Alderman Leo Meyer, who was elected to his position in April, explained why he voted to eliminate the police department.“I just feel that with Warren County’s presence, with a little extra when they’ve agreed to give us that time . . . for the money that it’s costing us, we can do OK without the police department.”Jenkins, the now-former chief, attended the meeting, but did not speak. Afterward, he explained some benefits that are lost by not having local police.Jenkins said even though he couldn’t be on duty at all hours, he tried to create a crime-deterrent by working at various times during the day and night. That way, no one would know beforehand when police were on patrol, he said, except to be monitoring Marthasville Elementary at the beginning and end of each school day.Beyond enforcing laws and city ordinances, Jenkins said he also responded to all medical calls within the city limits and carried first aid and CPR equipment. He said his police vehicle also carried an automated external defibrillator (AED), the electric shock device used to restore heart function during a heart attack.Because of that, Jenkins could provide limited medical aid if he ever got to a call before emergency responders.Police