The Department is struggling with a personnel shortage. Twenty years ago, we had 1045 officers. Today, sworn officers number around 760. The city and metro area only continue to grow. To try to address the issues, the department is trying to address how to deal with shortages on until a time when new officers can be hired and trained.
Lower Minimums:
Lowering staffing looks good on paper.
There's less overtime to hire, but it does not solve the essential problem: Man-power.
Restrict the Calls:
Eliminate calls other city agencies already take. The city has a non-sworn parking patrol. Officers should not be dispatched to parking calls. There is a Noise Department. Business, bar, and construction noise calls should be addressed by that department. Etc.
Welfare checks involving "man down unchecked" or "I haven't seen my neighbor into weeks and the mail is piling up" should be addressed by Fire paramedics.
The state voted to legalize hard drugs. Dispatch should not be setting up calls on a subject injecting meth or smoking fentanyl on foil.
Proposals have been sent to the city council, but the powers that want be want officers to respond to all calls regardless of staffing or the time people have to wait to speak with an officer.
All misdemeanor level theft and vandalism calls with no suspect information should be phone or self-reported on-line. Exceptions could be made for language and disability concerns.
If the staffing is at -5 or greater, only take priority calls (1-4) until a shift with greater coverage is available. Life-Safety and crime in progress become the focus over property crimes.
These last two solutions only angers citizens who feel their needs are not being meet by the city.
Mandatory Overtime:
Force officers to work 12 hours days or work one of their days off per shift.
Many agencies do this, but it burns out officers, decreases morale, and creates other health issues. In the long run, more officer become disgruntled and leave the department.
