It looks like there will be no changes to the city of Selma’s police and fire jurisdictions for the time being.

The Selma City Council had been weighing the pros and cons of bringing the jurisdiction in one and a half miles.

However, after a meeting between the police department, fire department and Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Councilman Michael Johnson said things would be left as they are.

“I think the decision is we really need to leave the PJ like it is,” said Johnson, who heads the council’s public safety committee.

There have been previous hearings and meetings on the idea over the years, but no action was ever taken. Selma Police Chief John Brock said the issue has been discussed on and off since he was a dispatcher in the 1970s.

Under the current state law, the city could pull the police and fire jurisdiction back from three miles to one and a half miles. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and various volunteer fire departments would pick up the difference.

Brock has spoken for the change, saying it would allow his department to focus its limited resources on the city limits.

“We have always talked about the jurisdiction and how we need to get back to the city limits,” Brock said. “Our emphasis is inside the limits, so there’s where we [need to be].”

Sheriff Harris Huffman opposed any changes, adding that the city covers 13 square miles with 31 uniformed officers while the sheriff’s office is responsible for 976 square miles with just 17.

The sheriff’s department is also responsible for providing security at the Dallas County Courthouse and serving warrants and other papers throughout the city and county.

Fire Chief Toney Stephens was against a change, saying it could jeopardize the department’s grants and could affect the department’s mutual aid agreements and property owners’ insurance.

Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw said there should be a compromise and suggested a shared station in Selmont, which accounts for much of the crime within the jurisdiction and drives up Selma crime stats.

“There ought to be a police station. Each department — county and city — needs to share the responsibility for solving some of these issues of crime,” Crenshaw said.

Council president Corey Bowie said any further discussion of the issue should include residents and business owners in both the city and jurisdiction and suggested holding a town hall.

Businesses in the police jurisdiction pay half the regular sales tax and business license fees.