Huge Growth in Tri-Cities, No Plans to Hire More Police
TRI-CITIES, Wash. -- As our area continues to grow, there's more pressure than ever on police to keep you safe. A 2009 census report shows Franklin County, for instance, makes the top list of the fastest-growing counties in the nation.
On paper, the fight against car thieves, drug dealers and gang bangers doesn't meet suggested state averages. The west coast average is 1.8 officers per 1,000 people, but Tri-Cities falls below. Kennewick reports 1.3 officers per 1,000, Richland reports 1.2 and Pasco 1.1.
Richland Captain Jeff Taylor said Richland's ratio has dropped three times in as many years. "That is a legitimate way to measure your resources," he said. "So obviously we are losing ground when you're talking officers per thousand."
KEPR wanted to know: why not just hire more officers? Even though departments would like to hire more, that decision is up to the respective city leaders. In most cases, there's just not enough money in the budget to afford new police.
It's no secret that local cities and counties are cash-strapped, but In Pasco, City Manager Gary Crutchfield points to calls for service and the crime rate as better indicators that police are staying on top of crime.
"Well, I think the proof is in the puddling. Our calls for service have gone down, the crime rate's gone down," Crutchfield said, "Statistically, we're safer now than we were in the past."
Crime rates in Pasco are the lowest they've been in recorded memory. In fact, Action News found violent crime plummeted 15 percent last year. Calls for service dropped six percent.
Ruth Locati, who lives in Pasco, could understand why cities wouldn't add more officers but was fortunate to feel safe in her own neighborhood. Several others KEPR talked to echoed Locati's feelings.
To make up for it, some police department told KEPR that they used technology to streamline their systems and held weekly meetings to pinpoint the crimes but if the population continues to grow, Taylor said they're going to have hire more cops.
"As those things change we'll change also," Crutchfield added.
We mentioned overall crime numbers have remained relatively low in the Tri-Cities. Official crime stats for 2010 will be released Thursday.
The official census count for 2010 will be released beginning in April.
On paper, the fight against car thieves, drug dealers and gang bangers doesn't meet suggested state averages. The west coast average is 1.8 officers per 1,000 people, but Tri-Cities falls below. Kennewick reports 1.3 officers per 1,000, Richland reports 1.2 and Pasco 1.1.
Richland Captain Jeff Taylor said Richland's ratio has dropped three times in as many years. "That is a legitimate way to measure your resources," he said. "So obviously we are losing ground when you're talking officers per thousand."
KEPR wanted to know: why not just hire more officers? Even though departments would like to hire more, that decision is up to the respective city leaders. In most cases, there's just not enough money in the budget to afford new police.
It's no secret that local cities and counties are cash-strapped, but In Pasco, City Manager Gary Crutchfield points to calls for service and the crime rate as better indicators that police are staying on top of crime.
"Well, I think the proof is in the puddling. Our calls for service have gone down, the crime rate's gone down," Crutchfield said, "Statistically, we're safer now than we were in the past."
Crime rates in Pasco are the lowest they've been in recorded memory. In fact, Action News found violent crime plummeted 15 percent last year. Calls for service dropped six percent.
Ruth Locati, who lives in Pasco, could understand why cities wouldn't add more officers but was fortunate to feel safe in her own neighborhood. Several others KEPR talked to echoed Locati's feelings.
To make up for it, some police department told KEPR that they used technology to streamline their systems and held weekly meetings to pinpoint the crimes but if the population continues to grow, Taylor said they're going to have hire more cops.
"As those things change we'll change also," Crutchfield added.
We mentioned overall crime numbers have remained relatively low in the Tri-Cities. Official crime stats for 2010 will be released Thursday.
The official census count for 2010 will be released beginning in April.
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