Other Fallout from the Downturn

It's all well and good to highlight the negative impact that a severe downturn will have on the economic wellbeing of the average American. But the fallout will almost certainly extend beyond financial matters.

Among other things, many people will soon find that their communities are no longer as safe as they once were because of cutbacks in spending on policing and other security-related expenditures. Based on the following report from Florida's Local6.com, "Police May Stop Responding To Some Crimes," it seems like things may already be heading in that direction.

Budget Crunch Forces Move To Be Considered

A budget crunch in Palm Bay could mean city residents who forget to secure car doors or close garages will get only a case number and nothing in terms of a visit by patrol officers if something is stolen.

The possible policy revision is part of a wider cost-cutting look at the Palm Bay Police Department's $20 million annual budget, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.

"We're looking very seriously at the types of calls we would go to," Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger said. "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."

The potential move is seen as an unusual step.

Other surrounding agencies -- such as Melbourne Police Department -- continue to respond to similar vehicle break-in calls.

Berger, however, pointed out that his agency has been hit hard by higher fuel costs and a cut in revenue. Earlier this year, Berger implemented a number of cost-saving efforts, including a no-idling policy for patrol cars.

"Certainly, Amendment 1 had an impact," Berger said, referring to the sweeping, statewide property-tax ballot item voters approved earlier this year. "The big promise was that it wouldn't affect public safety, but it has."

The department likely will lose four police officer positions -- all held for officers either working or serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Those officers will have their jobs when they return, but we're having to keep those positions vacant," Berger said.

Also under review will be whether officers who take home marked patrol cars will need to pay for their own gas or reimburse the city about 50 cents for every mile driven away from work.

Berger said he also is working hard to keep the department's nontaxpayer-funded programs running, including its DNA database program that uses officers to collect blood, saliva and other biological evidence at crime scenes.

Comments

[roger]

Question: Doesn't anybody find it strange that MONEY is the glue that
holds ""Civilization""together? We humans especially in the US have
the capacity to produce everything we need and more.
What are we? a bunch of MORONS? Please don't answer, I know the answer.

[Ralph]

Fire the donut eater if he doesn't want to do his job. I am so sick of public employees with this attitude.

[Independent Accountant]

We must make choices. Will we finally end our war on drugs, which I estimate costs over $80 billion a year? Will be stop schooling illegal aliens' children? Will we begin deporting them en masse?

[LEON FAINSTADT]

Democrats supporting a Bush bailout? House Republicans bucking the Bush and Paulson proposal? Tell me America is on the verge of a nervous braikdown. What in the world are the Democrats doing? This is really nuts.

The ARM resets continue from now until 2011. What then?

[Jill]

My husband's car window was smashed out a month ago in our driveway - the thief only took an old sweatshirt, but replacing the window cost us $368. The Fairfax County Police refused to come out and would only give us a case number over the phone. They said they'd only follow up if we had seen the crime in action and could NAME the criminal. Gee, thanks!