PARIS — A proposed one-year trial merger of the Norway and Paris police departments has been rejected by voters in Paris.

The measure was defeated in a 41-41 vote on Monday night. It needed a majority to pass.

Norway voters had approved the trial merger in June.

The police chiefs in both towns had expressed approval for the move. They said a merger would lead to a more efficient use of resources, put more officers on patrol and more resources into the investigation of serious crime.

If the one-year trial merger was deemed a success the towns would have worked on a permanent merger.

Both chiefs tell the Sun Journal the proposal now appears dead.