HARDIN - Launching a new police department in Hardin will cost about $1 million, money the city doesn't have.

"If Hardin were going to start a whole police force right now, taxes would be so high nobody would be able to afford to live in Hardin," said Mayor Ron Adams.

Enter American Private Police Force Group.

On Sept. 10, officials from Hardin's economic development arm, Two Rivers Authority, announced that they had signed a 10-year contract with APF to run TRA's idle jail.

Neither Hilton nor TRA officials have released details about APF, except to say it is a legitimate corporation. Hardin and TRA have not been asked to put money toward the APF contract.

As part of the offer, APF owner Michael Hilton said he'd help launch the police force by helping with hiring and providing the first vehicles.

Hilton and APF employees arrived Wednesday evening in Hardin driving three black Mercedes SUVs with removable decals that read "City of Hardin Police Department."

Hilton said the cars and decals are prototypes that show Hardin his commitment to help with policing and cleaning up the town.

Residents didn't see it that way, and when one accused Adams on Thursday night of secret discussions with APF on the police force, he had an emotional response, bouncing out of his folding chair, yelling and pointing his finger at the woman.

"We have not, categorically have not, had any discussions with 'em," he said. "We have no idea. Don't you dare say that."

The meeting, which was to focus on deconsolidating law enforcement, quickly ended. But speculation about the SUVs continued in the halls and parking lot of the county courthouse.

The center of the decal is APF's symbol, the crest of Hilton's native Montenegro, with a rising-sun background. The lettering includes Hardin and its town establishment date, 1907. The back bumper reads "police department."

TRA's bondholder, Mike Harling, executive vice president of Municipal Capital Markets Group Inc., said last week that bondholders had not signed off on the contract because tax language needed to be inserted to secure the tax-exempt status of the bonds.

When Two Rivers made the announcement it had signed a 10-year agreement with APF, that document was signed by Two Rivers and APF but not the bank that has the bonds, Two Rivers attorney Becky Convery said.

She said US Bank trustee has not signed the agreement because it has to be reviewed by their attorney.

Convery said she believes it is the "full intention" of all three parties to sign an agreement, but there is exacting legal language that needs to be used.

"There is no doubt that we are going to get that deal done as soon as we've had a complete legal review of the documents," she said.

Related

• APF head Hilton has history of legal trouble