Lexington police at full force again
Lexington locals may be hearing more sirens and seeing more flashing blue lights this fall.
For the first time in three years, the Lexington Police Department is fully staffed with 17 officers. The last of those officers was certified in August.
The increase has led to a 25-percent increase in arrests this year. Police say it is also serving as a deterrent for problems such as public drunkenness.
From January to October 2006, the Police Department made 418 arrests. In 2005, eight officers retired, leaving the department short-handed.
From January to October this year, as the number of officers went up, arrests increased to 510.
Chief Steve Crowder says the increase in Lexington arrests is directly related to putting more officers on the street. But police also believe that, with some offenses, their stronger presence will make people think twice about breaking the law.
“I believe it's easier for us when we're fully staffed to do what we are already good at because we have more people to do it,” said Lt. Alfonso Miller.
For instance, drunk in public arrests dropped from 100 in 2006 to 54 in 2008. Miller credits the decline to increased police visibility. He hopes that will be enough to keep citizens from breaking the law.
The department now has a drug task force and a specialized Internet crime investigator. Officers can also take more time off and can work fewer overtime hours. They would still like to see one more person on each shift.
But the city budget is being hit hard by the struggling economy and statewide budget cuts, and additional positions are not likely.
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(NAME HERE / Rockbridge Report)
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Produced by
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journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pamela Luecke
Reporting Supervisors:
Prof. Doug Cumming
Prof. Indira Somani
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd