The Lynnwood Police Guild says there aren’t enough cops on the street. The mayor says there’s just isn’t the money to hire any more.
The mayor is proposing to leave seven open police officer positions vacant, citing a new $3.5 million budget shortfall. But the union representing police officers says those positions are already funded in the current budget.
The union filed a grievance this past summer and the matter is now headed for arbitration. They say low officer staffing levels are putting them and the public at risk. Some days, only a few officers are on duty.
“Suffice it to say, I’ve been here over twenty-some years — we’re at staffing levels that pre-date that,” Deputy Chief Bryan Stanifer said in July.
The 2011-12 budget calls for 71 officers. Since it was passed last year, at least seven officers have left for other departments. As the City Council starts to debate budget amendments, the mayor’s proposal aims to leave those seven positions unfilled.
The arbitrator’s decision will be final and binding. No hearing date has been set.
The solution presents itself — the mayor should give the police exactly what they want. Hire however many officers they want. Give them more than that, while we’re at it.
And pay for it all with cuts elsewhere in the administration.
Lynnwood already has a higher crime rate than surrounding north-end cities, according to City-data.com (crime index comparison data). If you want less cops, you get what pay for. It takes a while for the impact to be seen, as proven by the 2010 reduction in crime–which was partially due to the support, training and staffing established in 08-09. It still should be noted that the Lynnwood crime rate was still twice that of Edmonds and Bothell in 2010.
The officers that remain in this city will be working in a more dangerous environment and will continue to be forced to do more with less.
Result: Higher crime. It is the Lynnwood neighborhoods, families, and community which will suffer because of the decisions made by the council/Mayor. Just check the comparable data. The fundamental responsibility of city government is to provide public safety. If it can’t even pay for that, we are in a dire position. It truly is about priorities of government. What are the priorities Lynnwood city government? Are they clear, or are they “feel good” PR issues without substance?
The solution presents itself — the mayor should give the police exactly what they want. Hire however many officers they want. Give them more than that, while we’re at it.
And pay for it all with cuts elsewhere in the administration.