The Jefferson Police Department is requesting an additional officer.
At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Chief Mark Clouse and Captain Heath Enns presented information explaining why they want more help.
Calls for service have grown over the years. In 2009, there were 2,250 calls for service and in 2015, there were 3,531 calls. Clouse notes that his department receives 79 percent more calls for service than the Greene County Sheriff’s office because they offer more services like funeral escorts and getting bats out of homes that the Sheriff’s office doesn’t do.
The department only has five patrol officers, plus a command staff with a captain and chief positions. Clouse says the national average is one officer for every 500 citizens and in Jefferson that ratio is one officer for every 900 citizens, which means each officer is handling 80 percent more calls for service than the average officer in the country. The department had eight full time officers and a secretary, but one officer and secretary positions were cut in 2003.
Following the presentation on Tuesday, Mayor Craig Berry gave his reaction to the situation.
“Well with the facts and figures presented tonight (Tuesday) I think there probably is a need to help them maintain and increase their proactivity in the City.”
A new officer with all required equipment, training and benefits, would cost the City about $63,000. To see more information, click the link below.
The Council took no action on the issue Tuesday night.