The Rock Island County Sheriff's Department is investigating 2 burglaries that happened in Cordova early Friday morning. .The break-ins come just months after Cordova disbanded its police department and started relying on Rock Island County Sheriff patrols.
At the Great River Mart on Highway 84 in Cordova repairs are underway.
"They broke out the front glass, entered the building and tripped the alarm system," says Great River Mart Owner Tom Ray.
The thieves were after the ATM, but weren't able to get away with the machine.
"With this one here being pretty well fastened down, it's not able to be taken out," adds Ray.
The ATM at the convenience store across the highway was stolen, leaving a big empty space in the store. When the alarm system went off at Great River Mart, the owner says Rock Island County Sheriff's deputies responded right away.
"I was happy with the county response time," says Ray, "I'm sure our police would have been the same response time."
Cordova Village Trustees feel the same way.
"We do have police coverage and very good coverage through Rock Island County," says Village Trustee John Myers, "They are very professional, they got here before the owner did and he only lives a half mile away."
Myers says Cordova police did not patrol at night, so they would not of been on the streets while the burglaries where happening. He adds he firmly believes that disbanding the police department was the right decision.
"A poorly managed police department is probably worse than having nothing," says Myers, "If it's broken, you have to go to the next step. The County sheriff is doing a great job."
TV6 also spoke with the village president about this issue. He would not go on camera, but says he wants the police department to be reinstated and will bring the issue up at the next village meeting.
