That the Mill Creek Police Department will get to significantly expand its staff if the proposed 2007-08 budget is approved is certainly good news. The only problem is that relief for the department and the community will be farther off.
Police Chief Bob Crannell admitted as much when he presented his proposed budget to the City Council on Oct. 24. Even if all the positions are the approved, the city still needs to hire two officers, a commander, a detective and an investigative specialist. And even if two new officers are quickly hired, they might need to attend the academy, which means it could be another year before any more patrol officers hit city streets. Out of all the proposed staffing changes in the department, the ones that most likely will hit first are the ones the public probably cares about the least: More hours for an administrative secretary and evidence technician.
Property crime and traffic violations have steadily increased for the past six years and growth is the culprit. Not only has the city added Town Center, apartment complexes, the Sports Park and annexed a large area, but the area to the south and east of Mill Creek continues to grow, with new housing and commercial development becoming as ubiquitous as evergreen trees once were.
Budget constraints in recent years led City Hall to limit adding new personnel throughout the city. However, no one on the City Council has consistently demanded more police. It’s almost as if everyone involved failed to see the larger picture of growth and what consequences that growth would have on the city.
Leaders must realize that residents want officers consistently patrolling Village Green Drive and the neighborhoods. Residents want a police force where detectives will not carry a working caseload of 80 incidents. Residents want a department that will be responsive to their needs in the timeliest manner possible.
The proposed police staffing increases must be approved, and it is incumbent that City Council members monitor local crime and demand more than answers, but that the police get the long-term resources it needs to keep Mill Creek a safe community.
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