Police, Fire Departments Trim Budgets

By Erica Williams
Staff Writer

June 16 -- You won’t see police on horseback anymore and the department may have to rely more on overtime to prevent delays in service under a proposed $36.9 million Police Department budget.

Though not asked to make the 5 percent cut in funding that other non-safety departments were required to make, police nevertheless had to come up with ways to realize savings.

It was able to come up with $438,385 in cuts for 2003-04 resulting in the loss of 1.8 full-time positions that include two part-time police cadet positions that are currently filled and the half-time vacant horse attendant position, as well as a half-time staff assistant.

The department expects vacancies in the equivalent of 5.6 full-time positions that are budgeted for but will not be filled.

Officer vacancies that will go unfilled will hamper the department's efforts in specialized areas such as vice, narcotics and special task force work and could also lead to overtime use to prevent delays in responding to a call.

A vacant position in the property/evidence unit that will go unfilled means shorter operating hours and increased response times to requests for service.

Because of additional cuts, $158,600 to make up for increased insurance and other internal costs, the department's "equipment maintenance funding is at the lowest possible amount" and funding for supplies "is only sufficient to provide the minimum amount" needed to support the department.

In 2004-05, $234,695 in cuts will result in no further loss of staff. Additionally, reduced records technician staffing may result in a cutback in operating hours for the records division, while decreased animal patrols could delay response and service at the animal shelter.

Further cuts of $480,300 to offset increased insurance and other internal service costs result in "the elimination of virtually all funding for replacement equipment and further reduction in supplies and expenses to levels which cannot be maintained" without seriously impacting services provided to the public.

Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr. assured the council last month that the officer vacancies will not affect deployment in problem areas of the City. These include Center Court on the Third Street Promenade, which is a gathering spot for young transients, and the Pico Neighborhood, which has been hit with a spree of shootings during the past month.

Asked about residents’ concerns about noise and privacy issues with regards to the police helicopter, Butts told the council, "There's nothing more invasive than losing your life."

"There is no police tool that is more effective dollar for dollar (in fighting crime)," Butts said, addressing cost concerns. "We may spend $2,000 for a week's deployment, but it's well-spent," he added.

The chopper, Butts said, is also needed to respond to "an acute and imminent threat to public safety," such as those associated with terrorism and high alert levels.

Fire Department

Businesses could pay a fire inspection fee and residents won’t be getting free lessons in preparedness, under a proposed $14 million budget for the City’ Fire Department.

$84,948 in cuts for 2003-04 results in the loss of one full-time position, a vacant fire safety coordinator position. The department will suffer severe impacts mostly to its fire safety and education programs, many of which will be reduced or severely cut back.

Among the programs to be eliminated are the fire, life safety and disaster preparedness programs that reached 8,000 adults and 8,500 children this year. Training for the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), life safety and disaster preparedness for resident and businesses as well as fire extinguisher training will also be eliminated.

Additionally programs for area schools, youth and a fall prevention program for the elderly will also be axed under the proposed budget. And there will be a dramatic reduction in the "Stop, Drop and Roll" program for elementary school students.

"I didn't come here to scare you," outgoing Fire Chief Ettore Berardinelli told the council last month. "We don't want to lose that continued non-emergency contact, but it won't be like it was before."

Berardinelli suggested the council consider implementing a $60 fee on fire inspections to businesses, which currently get them for free while residents pay a fee, as a way to minimize the severe impacts.

"This is an extraordinary time and you have to think of extraordinary measures," he said, noting that there 3,016 businesses in the City.

Berardinelli, who is due to retire soon, received a standing ovation from the council for his years of service, with Holbrook giving him "a bit of a roast" and telling the chief it took him 10 years to learn to pronounce his name.

The chief gave a miniature badge, designed by one of his department's officers, to each council member as part of his farewell.