CHARLACK • The Charlack Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday night to preemptively end a contract with the North County Police Cooperative and approve a contract with the St. Ann Police Department.

City officials said they were concerned that their city of about 1,300 may not have been receiving 24-hour police service from the co-op.

The three-year contract with the co-op was originally set to end on Oct. 15, Charlack Mayor Mark Chamberlain said, but city officials now hope to get St. Ann police patrols started immediately.

City Attorney Edward Sluys said the city was facing "very serious safety issues" under the contract with the North County Police Cooperative.

"We need adequate police protection," Chamberlain said Tuesday evening. "There's supposed to be a (patrol) car highly visible out here 24/7, and we don't think that's happening."

The North County Police Cooperative, based in Vinita Park, has been patrolling Charlack, Wellston, Velda Village Hills, Pine Lawn, Beverly Hills, Uplands Park and Dellwood.