City officials concerned about unfilled vacant police positions

Durham police say they can continue their current level of service without filling 16 needed positions, but city officials thought the opposite during a discussion on the police budget Wednesday morning.

 

"I hear the rationale, but I don't buy it," City Councilman Mike Woodard said.

 

Durham Police Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr. presented the department's 2009-10 budget to the city council during the special budget meeting. The $46 million budget includes a 4 percent increase for officer raises and benefits as well as building costs. It also calls for not filling 16 positions that are already vacant, including three domestic violence investigator spots, which was the greatest concern to council members.

 

Keeping the domestic violence positions vacant will result in a reduction of in-person follow up contact by 15 percent and attendance at community events by 20 percent, Lopez said. This means about 195 people will have a follow up telephone conversation with investigators, who will attend 20 less events. The unit, with nine officers, had about 1,300 in-person contacts and showed up at 81 events during the 2008-09 budget year.

 

"Where's the safety net, there is not one," said Woodard, concerned that victims will receive less police service. "We're shrinking the safety net on every corner for these victims."

 

The vacancies will mean more work and juggling schedules, something police officials say they're used to.

 

“Don’t think for a minute that we won’t be doing an analysis  from July 1," Deputy Chief Ron Hodge said of the police budget. "If we see that we’re not meeting the needs of the citizens in some particular area, we’re prepared to reallocate our police positons to do what we need to do to get through this crisis.”

 

Other unfilled positions include two internal affairs investigators, four bicycle officers, two victims services officers and a background investigator. City Manager Tom Bonfield said the positions will be filled if the department receives additional federal stimulus money.