LATHROP – Even with the slowdown in residential building and record foreclosures in the 12-month period from Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2009, Lathrop’s population still managed to grow by 1.38 percent – from 17,429 to 17,671.
The Lathrop Police Services currently has 27 sworn officers. Using the figures in the city’s general plan which sets the police staffing standard of 1.5 officers for every 1,000 residents, the resulting number is 26.5 officers.
That staff in 2008, with the help of four civilian employees, handled a 9.2 percent increase in calls for services – from 23,048 in 2007 to 25,168 in 2008. The rest of the work load included 3,324 documented reports plus 1,974 traffic citations and 580 arrests.
Police Chief Dolores Delgado crunched those numbers Tuesday night during the 2009-10 budget hearing in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
More number-crunching though is expected in the city’s police department as the city continues to look for more ways to cut $1.2 million to bridge the anticipated $2.5 million deficit in the coming fiscal year brought on by the continuing sluggish economy and dwindling revenues persist.
Mayor Kristy Sayles put it bluntly in a nutshell after the police chief presented her department’s proposed 2009-10 spending plan of $4,904,337 which reflects an 11 percent increase from the 2008-09 budget of $4,419,576.
“Nobody is enjoying the position we’re in; it’s very difficult,” Sayles told the chief. “I just want you to know that we’re serious about public safety.”
The chief responded, “We understand, and we look forward to addressing the city’s concerns. I appreciate your comments.”
Council member Christopher Mateo told Delgado he has “nothing but praise” for the police force. But, he quipped, “I hope you’re not going to ask us for a raise.”
On a more serious note, he asked the police chief to consider the city’s dire budget constraints in the next five years with an expected deficit of $2.5 million a year. Delgado answered that they have tried to be “as creative as possible” with the police’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
Everyone on the council has openly stated that public safety is their No. 1 concern.
“I want to state publicly that police officers are my No. 1 priority at the moment,” stated Vice Mayor Martha Salcedo. “I want to do everything possible to keep whatever Chief Dolores needs – I know she’s a very honest lady – and that we try to do our best to provide it because our safety is very important.”
In previous interviews with the Manteca Bulletin, Council members Robert Oliver and Sonny Dhaliwal have expressed the same feelings.
Still, “that’s not where we need to be,” the mayor said of the numbers in the proposed police budget proposal, and that the goal is still to decrease the numbers which is what the ongoing negotiations with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is aiming to do.
At the same time, the mayor commended the efforts of Sheriff Steve Moore to apply for stimulus dollars on behalf of the city. Since the city contracts its police services with the Sheriff’s Office, it cannot apply for those funds directly but the Sheriff can, Sayles said.
The Lathrop police has a patrol area of 22 geographical miles which include the still largely open agricultural spaces at River Islands west of the San Joaquin River and in the Central Lathrop area where the Richland project was supposed to be including the Lathrop High School. The police force’s current staffing level includes one captain (who is the police chief), one lieutenant, three sergeants, two detectives, 20 deputy Sheriffs (with one unfilled position), and four civilian staff.
The Lathrop Police Services currently has 27 sworn officers. Using the figures in the city’s general plan which sets the police staffing standard of 1.5 officers for every 1,000 residents, the resulting number is 26.5 officers.
That staff in 2008, with the help of four civilian employees, handled a 9.2 percent increase in calls for services – from 23,048 in 2007 to 25,168 in 2008. The rest of the work load included 3,324 documented reports plus 1,974 traffic citations and 580 arrests.
Police Chief Dolores Delgado crunched those numbers Tuesday night during the 2009-10 budget hearing in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
More number-crunching though is expected in the city’s police department as the city continues to look for more ways to cut $1.2 million to bridge the anticipated $2.5 million deficit in the coming fiscal year brought on by the continuing sluggish economy and dwindling revenues persist.
Mayor Kristy Sayles put it bluntly in a nutshell after the police chief presented her department’s proposed 2009-10 spending plan of $4,904,337 which reflects an 11 percent increase from the 2008-09 budget of $4,419,576.
“Nobody is enjoying the position we’re in; it’s very difficult,” Sayles told the chief. “I just want you to know that we’re serious about public safety.”
The chief responded, “We understand, and we look forward to addressing the city’s concerns. I appreciate your comments.”
Council member Christopher Mateo told Delgado he has “nothing but praise” for the police force. But, he quipped, “I hope you’re not going to ask us for a raise.”
On a more serious note, he asked the police chief to consider the city’s dire budget constraints in the next five years with an expected deficit of $2.5 million a year. Delgado answered that they have tried to be “as creative as possible” with the police’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
Everyone on the council has openly stated that public safety is their No. 1 concern.
“I want to state publicly that police officers are my No. 1 priority at the moment,” stated Vice Mayor Martha Salcedo. “I want to do everything possible to keep whatever Chief Dolores needs – I know she’s a very honest lady – and that we try to do our best to provide it because our safety is very important.”
In previous interviews with the Manteca Bulletin, Council members Robert Oliver and Sonny Dhaliwal have expressed the same feelings.
Still, “that’s not where we need to be,” the mayor said of the numbers in the proposed police budget proposal, and that the goal is still to decrease the numbers which is what the ongoing negotiations with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office is aiming to do.
At the same time, the mayor commended the efforts of Sheriff Steve Moore to apply for stimulus dollars on behalf of the city. Since the city contracts its police services with the Sheriff’s Office, it cannot apply for those funds directly but the Sheriff can, Sayles said.
The Lathrop police has a patrol area of 22 geographical miles which include the still largely open agricultural spaces at River Islands west of the San Joaquin River and in the Central Lathrop area where the Richland project was supposed to be including the Lathrop High School. The police force’s current staffing level includes one captain (who is the police chief), one lieutenant, three sergeants, two detectives, 20 deputy Sheriffs (with one unfilled position), and four civilian staff.
