Sean C. Morgan
Calls to Sweet Home police for service reached 8,854 in 2004, a substantial increase over the year before.
The number does not include traffic patrol stops that don’t result in arrests or impounds.
In 2003, Sweet Home police responded to 7,819 calls. In 2002, they responded to 7,295. In 2001, police handled 7,402 calls; 2000, 7,658; and 1999, 6,981.
Why call loads increased so much last year is “hard to say without looking at the breakdown of those calls,” Police Chief Bob Burford said. The department will go through its records and break calls out into FBI Uniform Crime Reports categories during the next couple of months.
“Then you can start to see a picture,” Chief Burford said. Certainly, a growing population is having an impact on emergency services. Both police and ambulance calls were at their highest levels last year.
A rule of thumb suggests police agencies will handle one call per citizen each year, Chief Burford said. The population of Sweet Home is more than 8,300.
The increased demand comes at a time when police services are stretched and facing cuts in service levels. To maintain current service levels, the city would need to cover a funding gap of up to $250,000 in the spring. The shortfall will be generated by retirement costs.
The department is operating one short of its authorized level at this time. The city maintained the department’s service levels in its 2004-05 budget, but it has been tight police haven’t been able to fill one position.
Police also have had to hold off purchasing new patrol cars, Chief Burford said. All but one patrol car have more than 100,000 miles on them, which is when those cars should be retired.
The department is purchasing two new vehicles this year, Chief Burford said. He has no choice, but one is a V6 Crown Victoria set up for police. He hopes it will save on fuel costs, and it costs less up front. Police will also begin wearing new uniforms, which cost less but last longer.
“I wanted to add one police officer for the first time since I’ve been chief,” Chief Burford said, but because of the shortfall, maintaining service levels was the best the department could hope for.
This year, the department may have to make some decisions on some services or at least give officers the latitude to deny it based on call loads at any given time. Chief Burford referred to services like unlocking car doors for residents.
“It’s one of those few things we can do where we’re pure service, where you’re able to just go out and help somebody, where they haven’t been victimized,” Chief Burford said.