The Dukes County sheriff has terminated a longstanding agreement with the county for an exchange of services that included partial funding of the Island’s 911 emergency communications center.

Voters in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury all defeated requests to fund a share of the Island’s emergency communications center, which coordinates response to 911 calls Islandwide.

Edgartown selectmen pushed back this week at a request from Sheriff Robert Ogden to have the town contribute funding to the Island communication center.

A longstanding program that provides counseling, education, job placement and other services for Islanders who have been incarcerated, is slated for elimination due to state budget cutbacks.

Robert Ogden began a six-year term as Dukes County sheriff Wednesday after he was sworn in a courthouse ceremony.

Sheriff Michael McCormack reminisces about his many mentors through the years, as he finishes his last term and eases into retirement at age 69.