Article published Mar 28, 2008

Police consider requesting levy

By RICHARD ECKE

Tribune Staff Writer

Stun weapons for each police officer, new emergency electric generators, another eight cops and five new clerks are on a wish list presented to city commissioners Thursday by Great Falls Police Chief Corky Grove.

He also told commissioners that the department is cramped in the aging police station, and said the building may need an addition that could cost up to $2 million. Grove also would like detectives to be able to take their police cars home to improve response times to major crimes. As it stands, detectives usually stop at the police station for their cars before going to the scene.

Many of these improvements require a chunk of change. New generators to ensure the police station would have power in a crisis might cost about $500,000, about the amount the department would need to add the officers it's requesting, Grove said.

He endorsed the idea raised by Fire Chief Randy McCamley on Wednesday that commissioners propose a special public-safety levy to pay for improved police and fire protection. Such a levy then would have to be approved by votes.

McCamley said an extra $1.3 million annually would help the department hire 16 new firefighters. A levy in that amount would cost an extra $55 per year in property taxes for the owner of a $100,000 house in the city.

Grove said he has not come up with an exact figure the police department would seek in a levy since the budgeting process is in its early stages. However, he said police budget increases could come close to the Fire/Rescue figure, not counting spending on an addition to the police station.

City commissioners will make the final decision on a city budget. If proposed, a public-safety levy could be placed on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

In his talk to commissioners, Grove said a new police station in a different location also is an option.

Even if the agency stays put, Grove said some alterations to the police station will be required because the evidence area is filling up. Parking also is inadequate, he said.

Great Falls has 83 sworn police officers, with at least five officers on patrol duty at any moment, Grove said. He would like to see the number of officers increase to 91.

Not all police officers patrol the streets or work as detectives, he said. His report stated that six officers work in support services, with three on special projects, two focusing on law-related education and one serving as a downtown officer. Four officers work in the public schools and two work at public housing locations. Two other officers work to get the department accredited.

Grove said if he ever had to make severe budget cuts in the agency, he would trim it back into two parts — the patrol portion and the investigation arm that uses detectives.

In addition to police officers, the department employs 37 civilians and could use five more, Grove said.

Finances are a big issue for the agency, Grove said, adding he wants Great Falls to stay in the top three police departments in the state for salaries.

"It is a very competitive market to get police officers," he said.

"Are we still doing a good response time?" Commissioner Bill Beecher asked.

Grove said response times in emergencies remain good, but those to routine calls "are starting to suffer."

Grove also said in his presentation that the agency's "very poor" generators cannot be counted on in an emergency.

"If a major catastrophe happens, we will go offline," Grove said. "We have to do something."

After hearing from various city agencies this week, the City Commission will work to produce a final budget by this summer.