Bel-Nor dissolving police department at the end of April [Video]

BEL-NOR, Mo. — The City of Bel-Nor is dissolving its police department at the end of the month, according to a letter posted Friday night on the city’s website.

The letter attributed the closure to “workforce shortages and budgetary issues.”

“With the ever-increasing costs of insurance, vehicles and providing competitive wages and benefits, our budget cannot keep up,” the city said. “The city will contract with another agency for law enforcement services.”

Since November 2022, Bel-Nor, a city of roughly 1,300 people in north St. Louis County, has had a mutual aid agreement with nearby St. John. According to the letter, St. John will continue responding to emergency calls after April 25, until the city makes a permanent arrangement.

“The process of finding a good match for our residents to feel comfortable with began immediately upon receiving notice that some of …