By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
(Decatur police were involved with the sheriff’s department in the investigation and arrest on Tuesday of two suspects in Monroe on charges of fraudulent activity, an alleged scam.)
Crime isn’t running rampant in Decatur, but it’s constantly out there – along with mental health problems, animal control problems, and various and sundry other matters which are putting an increased burden on the police department as the city continues to grow.
The subject of an overburdening of the local police came up at city council’s latest meeting, during a discussion of preparing the budget for 2025.
Although he knew the chances of it happening were zero to none, Police Chief Kevin Gerber told council and Mayor Dan Rickord he would like to hire four new officers, three for the road and another which would provide a second School Resource Officers (RSO) to North Adams Schools.
He also said he would like to be able to purchase body cameras for his officers.
“I believe it’s beyond the time to do this,” Gerber said of the body cameras. “Our officers want them, the public wants them.”
He noted how the cameras “could save the city (money) on frivolous lawsuits.”
Mayor Rickord was in agreement. “We’re a rarity in not having body cameras (for officers),” he said. “We’ve seen just recently in Fort Wayne how they have been good to have.”
Councilwoman Jenny Bowers-Shultz also agreed to the need, adding, “but I didn’t know if the officers want them.”
“They do; it protects them,” Gerber replied.
A firm he checked into could provide the cameras and include storage – “a huge cost,” Gerber said of storage– at approximately $70,000 a year, or just under $400,000 on a five-year plan.
MORE OFFICERS: The increased burden on the department was discussed as Gerber related some of the multitude of tasks officers face these days.
The chief said the department averages approximately 980 calls per month; there were over 1,000 calls in April.
An increased number of incidents to which police are sent involve people with mental problems, never an easy situation to deal with.
Then there are the calls involving animals. Bowers-Shultz said some of the “calls” need to be taken off the police, specifically pointing to animal problems.
Rickord added that there needs to be discussions with county officials on their current animal control setup. “I think this needs to happen,” he exclaimed.
“It’s falling on our police officers to do this.”
As Gerber said an addition of four officers would be ideal for the department – it takes about $100,000 to get an officer trained, equipped, including a car, etc., Clerk-Treasurer Kevin Hackman explained – he said one of them would be turned over to North Adams as a SRO.
“There’s definitely a need out there,” Gerber remarked, pointing to a few facts: some 1,500 students, around 300 staff members, and a building which is approximately a half-mile long.
Councilman Scott Murray, who is employed by Fort Wayne Community Schools, said that system has found success with student advocates, adults hired to take some of the burdens off the police in the schools,
“It’s definitely made a difference,” Murray said.
The Decatur Police Department consists 20 officers: Gerber and Assistant Chief Chris Brite, along with three sergeants, two detectives and 13 patrolmen.
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