NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - After more than two years without a police department, Newton Falls will have its police department back up and running in July.

Newton Falls Police Chief John Barco tells 21 News the department will be back up and running Tuesday, July 1.

Chief Barco says he will be the only full time officer, but the police department will still offer around-the-clock services courtesy of 20 part time officers.

The city has been without a police department since the beginning of 2023 when the department disbanded and operations were taken over by the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office.

Council blamed the failure of a police levy for the disbanding of the department.

"Why it was decided a few years ago to disband it was a terrible mistake," said Jeff Limbian, the city's law director.

The police department will be funded by the money that was used for the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office when it was serving the city after the police department disbanded.

Limbian believes that money will cover the cost to restart operations, but to enhance it down the road could require more funding.

"The amount of police coverage is going to depend, frankly on grants, loans, perhaps a levy, speed cameras. There is all kinds of things that are going to be necessary to be considered, in order to have a fully-effective police department," Limbian explained.

Looking ahead, Barco says the police department will be seeking grants to fund things like a new server for records, new MDTs, which are the computers used in the cruisers and body cameras.

The police chief says they have  combination of veterans returning, along with new officers coming out of the academy.

Barco wanted to thank everyone that's been in support of bringing the police department back. 

One of the first orders of business will be community engagement. Officers will be out in full force getting acquainted with residents on July 4, with similar events taking place in August.