Budget Crunch to Curtail Police Services?

Economic concerns and budget cutbacks may reduce some police services and responses if more communities adopt the same policies as one Florida police department. The Palm Bay Police Department has decided not to send a patrol car to respond to certain crimes reported by victims.

Instead, the department will merely issue a case number that can be used for insurance purposes.

If you leave your garage door open and someone steals something from inside it, the Palm Bay police will not be sending a officer to investigate. Likewise, if you leave your vehicle door unlocked and someone steals something from your car, there will be no investigation forthcoming in Palm Bay.

"We're looking very seriously at the types of calls we would go to," Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger told reporters. "Still, about 85 to 90 percent of the people who've had their cars broken into left the car doors open. But, obviously, if it's an actual break-in, we'll respond."

Affecting Public Safety?

Otherwise, the department will issue the victim a case number, but there will be no response call or investigation, Berger said.

The Palm Bay Police Department has a $20 million annual budget, but higher fuel costs and a cut in revenue due to a Florida property tax relief amendment has caused wide-spread cost-cutting measures. Chief Berger has also established a no-idle police for patrol cars.

"Certainly, Amendment 1 had an impact," Berger said. "The big promise was that it wouldn't affect public safety, but it has."

Surrounding law enforcement agencies in Brevard County have yet to adopt the cuts that Palm Bay has adopted, but as economic conditions continue to decline, more jurisdictions may have to take a look at the policies.

See Also:
Police May Stop Responding To Some Crimes

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