Schipske Asks Chief of
Police to Publicly Report How Much Additional Funds Needed for Police
Department – Says “constituents complaining of being told by Police ‘not enough resources’”
Long Beach, CA -- November 30, 2012 – Vice Chair of the City’s
Public Safety Committee, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, today submitted an
agenda item which asks the Chief of Police to publicly “report on the impact of the current budget (FY 2013) on response times
of the department and to identify what additional funding is needed so that
residents are assured that the police have appropriate resources.”
The agenda item
comes as a result of Councilwoman Schipske learning during a recent council
meeting that the Police Department needs an additional $1.5 million just to
cover its overtime costs for this budget year “and an increase in the number of
residential crimes in the 5th District coupled with numerous
complaints from 5th District residents that they are being told by
police that the police don’t have enough resources,” explains Schipske.
“Just recently, the City Council transferred monies which
were designated for shot identification technology for use by the Police Department
for overtime. When I asked the Chief what additional monies were needed to meet
overtime needs of the Department, she was told in Council by the Chief that the
Department needs $1.5 million,” says Schipske pointing out that FY 2013 Budget
proposals for the Police Department were submitted to the Council by the City
Manager and the Mayor. “At no time was the Council told by either party that
current budget levels would be insufficient to maintain an adequate police
presence in the City or at a level that officers in the field would need to
inform residents that they lack sufficient resources.”
Schipske also recently asked the Fire Department to
report on the impact of the budget on its responses times after hearing reports
from firefighters how difficult it is to respond to calls for services with
less staff and less equipment.
“Neither of these situations is acceptable. The City
Council needs to hear in a public session what additional funds are needed now
to keep this city safe.”
Schipske indicates that funding may be available from the
increases in both property and sales tax revenue the city is experiencing due
to an improving economy. “The recent court ruling that the County of Los
Angeles owes the city money should also be considered a source for public
safety. Additionally, as the city sells off properties that were once owned by
Redevelopment, we need to designate the revenue from the sales for public
safety.”
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