Janesville police chief warns against cutting officers
JANESVILLE — Police chief Dave Moore Wednesday told of a resident who waited two hours this summer for an officer to respond to a complaint of a loud party on Memorial Drive.
Moore predicted similar lags in service if a second police officer position is frozen in the 2013 budget.
Officers will still respond to major crimes and emergencies and will work to keep neighborhoods safe and orderly, he said.
But other residents will wait an hour to see an officer at the station or wait a week for a records request, he said.
The person who called about the party later called back and complained.
"We wish we could give better service, but we just didn't have anyone to send," Moore said.
Council members met for a first 2013 budget study session Wednesday. Another session is scheduled at 6 p.m. tonight.
Manager Eric Levitt proposed freezing an officer position to help keep the city levy increase under the state limits. The $42.8 million general fund budget is a 2.15 percent increase while the tax levy increases 1.52 percent.
The owner of a home valued at $120,100 would pay an additional $2.57 for city services under the proposed budget. It also includes a $16 fee increase for garbage collection.
Moore was not happy with the suggestion to freeze a police officer position. It would be the second position in two years. A crime prevention specialist was cut last year.
Two part-time community service specialists would be hired to handle animal control and other duties at a cost of $37,449.
Law enforcement in Janesville continues to be more complex and demanding than ever, and yet the city is falling behind on staffing, Moore said.
If the city staffed according to the state average, it would have 133 officers, he said. If it staffed as Janesville's peer cities do, it would have 113 officers.
Janesville has 103 officers, and this budget calls to lower that number to 102, the lowest level since 1998, he said. The most officers the city has employed was 112.
Fewer police officers affect community policing, preventive patrols, problem-solving efforts and traffic enforcement, Moore said. His officers are not able to work on issues but instead have to go from call to call.
The council should be careful that the city maintains its perception of being a safe community, Moore said. That is why he and his officers pour so many resources into the Fourth Ward and Look West neighborhoods.
"If we keep those neighborhoods safe, our entire community will be perceived to be safe," he said.
Moore talked about a recent survey of residents commissioned by the council to help members in its budgeting.
Thirteen percent of residents would reduce law enforcement to rein in taxes while 45 percent would raise taxes to keep levels the same, Moore said.
Moore said that's significant.
"Bottom line, our citizens simply want to be safe," he said.
Councilman Russ Steeber suggested putting the officer position back in the budget at a cost of $66,566.
"I don't think we compromise on public safety," he said.
Councilman Sam Liebert suggested adding a crime prevention specialist position at a cost of $59,357. Moore said that might sound expensive, but raises for those positions don't increase as much as they would with police officers.
Councilman DuWayne Severson agreed with Steeber and said filling the officer position correlates to what people said in the survey.
Council members will consider suggested increases and reductions at the end of the study sessions.
The council also will consider hiring three additional firefighters to reduce $377,100 in overtime.
Dec 20, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.
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I have to say that I agree with those who have spoken of wasteful spending in this city. I too want my community safe. I do not feel we need another round about or another poorly placed sidewalk project. I also see a lot of repairing of roads that were repaired less than three years ago and still show very little sign of damage, while others are so damaged that when you hit a bump you think your wheel is about to fall off! I read through the comments on here and, while I am not very surprised, I am disgusted at some of this wastefulness. Really? A consulting firm to discuss whether a position is needed? Come on Janesville! Get your act together and stop focusing so much on the politics of it all. Please, for the sake of the tax payers who could face sixteen dollars more for their garbage to be picked up!
Oct 13, 2012 at 5:23 p.m.
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Thanks, janesvillian, always incisive and insightful.
Oct 13, 2012 at 3:19 p.m.
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I wonder how much police time gets wasted with cell phones that call 911 all by themselves and why isn't there a national movement to do something about this?
Oct 13, 2012 at 1:27 p.m.
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gazettefan, all I can say is that there are no easy answers. I honestly don't know how the JPD does what it does with so few sworn officers per capita, but I like to think that pressuring the landlords has been a big help. Chief Moore has stated that he doesn't expect new funding sources to open up for several years, and certainly the long economic recovery for Janesville has only just begun. The loss of a good chunk of state shared revenue was a real blow and, as noted, hit Janesville particularly hard and at the worst possible time. In short, I don't see these budget pressures easing anytime soon, and the council is going to have to make some pretty tough choices.
Oct 13, 2012 at 9:25 a.m.
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Where's janesvillian on this issue?
Oct 13, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.
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If you borrow money for operating expenses, you are on a fast track to trouble. It is vastly different than borrowing for capital expenses. Maybe we should have a charge for calling police and fire depts. I have lived in Janesville nearly 50 years and never called either.
Oct 12, 2012 at 3:58 p.m.
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Sounds to me like our public officials in some cases, are not performing -- or they have prioritized traffic stops over calls ...
Oct 12, 2012 at 3:54 p.m.
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If they can borrow money for this new trash system, they can figure out where to come up with the money for police and fire. I consider those things NECESSITIES. There are a whole lot of things in the budget that I would support cutting so as not to need to cut police and fire. Public safety is not where cuts should be made.
Oct 12, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.
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The wages for most are declining because jobs still are being offshored to China, which is why foreclosures are increasing. Unless public employees are willing to accept lower wages, foreclosures will increase. Another option is to base all taxes and fees on income so that less homeowners will lose their homes to foreclosure. That way, property owners with high incomes will pay higher taxes and fees, and property owners with lower incomes will pay lower taxes and fees. Banks have a huge shadow inventory that they have not yet brought to market. When they do, property values will decline even further and foreclosures will soar.
Oct 12, 2012 at 3:04 p.m.
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I think we could save a lot of money in this town if we closed and stopped a lot of useless things. Close Ice arena, senior center, library, PAC, stop school sports, shut down sports complex, garbage pickup in winter every other week, eliminate every other street light, only plow residential streets after 5 inches of snow accumulation, close all parks and golf courses. Only replace residential streets when majority of residents petition for new paving. Require that all police and fire calls be payed for by complainant. No fall leaf pick up. I'm sure there are more things but I have run out of time. I am sure some others of you could add to this list and make our city a tax haven and paradise. Good luck getting any decent business to locate here. Business today want amenities for themselves and to be able to attract the kind of employees they want. 8 dollar an hour job maybe, but not really good pay.
Oct 12, 2012 at 2:33 p.m.
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I will pay more to be protected, I will not pay more for the garbage crap being pushed down our throats. Who wanted these fancy ass things in the first place and why do we need them. Is this cutting from the city work force and if not why not??? Quit wasting money on stupid crap and lets keep this community safe.I too have reported drug activity and never got a call back from anyone, had to leave info on voice mail. Police, fireman and equipment they may need yes. Ice arenas and round abouts, now there was a waste of money. Come on put what is most important first just like we the citizens have to do everyday in our lives. Roof over our head, food on the table, lights, and then what we deem important enough can come later. If this city can't start living within the means of the citizen's maybe they all should be fired. It's called a budget for a reason now stick with it get rid of the things that are unnecessary and are just a want. We the citizens of this town do it every day of our lives.
Oct 12, 2012 at 12:40 p.m.
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Holy crap...i agree with Sigma!!!!
Oct 12, 2012 at 8:35 a.m.
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TroubleMaker, the personnel carrier article was in an article of the Gazette in August. Beloit is buying it and maintaining it with drug seizure money. Janesville and Rock county agreed to pay into it as well after Beloit asked if they wanted to. Beloit was going to buy it regardless. It is all drug seizure money. It has been ordered.
Oct 12, 2012 at 7:16 a.m.
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Find some fluff that costs $66,566 and get rid of that instead. We can't short change our police force. It's mind boggling to think that our "leaders" are willing to throw money into WANTS like the ice arena and a private business (SHINE), but they aren't supportive of the NEEDS of our city by providing an adequate police force for our safety and well-being.
Oct 12, 2012 at 7:03 a.m.
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Maybe they shouldn't buy that armored personnel carrier! Wonder what the maintenance and training costs are for that thing. And why haven't we heard any more about it? Is it being bought in secret so we don't know who to blame?
Oct 12, 2012 at 6:16 a.m.
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Again you have people evaluating finances that shouldnt be. Of all the worthless things this city blows money on now they are too broke to afford our current police force? HA! Maybe we should put some more into the ice arena? Or maybe change the speed limit on a dozen more roads? Or add a cross walk in another dangerous curve? Buy some houses? Build another park? Or the best yet.....Lets pay a consulting firm $100k to see if its a wise choice to cut a $60k job.
Oct 12, 2012 at 5:47 a.m.
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There are other things that could be frozen or cut rather than protective services. I'll guarantee if a council member needed an officer and they had to wait two hours they'd be barking about it.
Oct 12, 2012 at 2:04 a.m.
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Your wrong on all counts 12oz,have another one,you ain't passed out yet!!
Oct 12, 2012 at 1:38 a.m.
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That's right freeze all of them blasted lazy public employees! Who needs them... RIGHT! That's what I thought. The minute you cry babies need something from a public employee and their not there in a timely fashion, it's their fault. I bet cry baby woodsman was the same one that supported Walker cutting unions and public employees because he let him carry a big bad gun under his coat.
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:39 p.m.
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It sounds like you are supporting the chiefs position that the pd is understaffed and not able to do anything proactive due to a lack of officers.
Oct 11, 2012 at 9:27 p.m.
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Hooters...have you tried locking your car doors? It doesn't solve everything but makes it a little harder.
Oct 11, 2012 at 9:19 p.m.
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Wish they could do something about all the thieves in Janesville. Instead of being the "City of Parks", Janesville is getting to be more like the "City of Thieves". Just the other night, our friendly neighborhood thief helped themselves to a bag of aluminum cans that were in a neatly packed trailer headed for the dump & recycling center in the morning. Not to mention all the car thefts. They walk up into your driveway and help themselves. Would love to set up a sting operation for our neighborhood thief. Totally believe it's been the same individual on the many occaisions this past year.
Oct 11, 2012 at 5:22 p.m.
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Has this anything to do with the police either taking there sweet time to show up on a complaint,or not even showing,i know for a fact that they have been called,many many times,about drug dealings going on,been told what houses,what the people look like,aren't these the kind of people that the cops want off the streets?? They have done nothing to even confront or investigate these people or drug houses,say they can't do nothing,unless they see it,well the eyes are the citizens,now do something,i worry about the children,innocent children that are in the line of fire in this neighborhood,and they,the cops should too!
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