Affordable Law Enforcement for Walsenburg

It is necessary for any community to have police powers to enforce law and order.  This is an unfortunate fact; however, it is a financial consideration we must provide for in our budget.  There are various formulas for determining the number of officers necessary for a given number of residents.  While they are somewhat varied, they are not radically different.  

Our city has about 3,000 residents, and in the past we have had up to sixteen officers.  In 2012 our police department had a budget of $900,000.  The total city budget was $1.2 million.  This was seventy percent of our budget for a police department that had the additional support of twelve Huerfano sheriff department officers and the Colorado State Patrol.

This is out of proportion to the needs of a small city like ours.  Recently, city officials indicated they were going to "lay off" three officers to bring the department staff down to a level affordable in our budget.  At present, the staff is ten, including the part-time animal control officer and an office clerk.  This is a move in the right direction, but the number still seems excessive.

Another positive step the department has taken is to include a police report as part of the Walsenburg City Council agenda. The report is given at the second meeting of the month. 

All of us have a vested interest in the city.  The budget is very important.  We are facing attempts to raise the mill levy here while the city is currently repaying us for an unlawful levy in the past.  In other words, we will be asked to increase taxes to repay ourselves.

Some citizens are attending committee meetings and city council meetings, but we need a lot of help with the current problems.

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