Lakeland Resident Suggests Retiring Police Department and Contracting with Sheriff

When we first started the blog, I was asked if this endeavor was going to be just a public relations stunt or would we really be open to topics that might be controversial. I assured the person we were an open and transparent agency, and would not shy away from controversy. This thought sets the stage for this morning's posting.

In a recent Letter to the Editor at The Ledger, Allen Davis suggests Lakeland could increase efficiencies and ultimately save money by retiring the Lakeland Police Department and contracting with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services. It's an interesting topic in this era of property tax reform and certainly one we do not favor. However, that does not diminish the relevance of the idea. We believe such discussion actually reinforces the importance of the police being responsive to the community and highlights the diverse array of timely services we provide the community. That's just how we see it.

Here's the entire letter in case you missed it.

Re: "Sheriff, Police Discuss Options" [Sept. 13, front page], how timely that The Ledger should publish this article. What Bartow is discussing, Lakeland should be discussing. Yes, it is possibly time for the city of Lakeland to turn over all law-enforcement responsibility to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

The latest budget that I could find on the Internet for the city of Lakeland was the 2004 budget. It reported that the Lakeland Police Department cost the taxpayers nearly $25 million. Allowing for inflation, I can see that the 2008 budget may allocate as much as $30 million to run the Lakeland Police Department. I am guessing that the population of Lakeland is now about 95,000, which would mean the Lakeland Police Department costs each citizen (man, woman and child), not each household, about $316 per year. Polk City, Eagle Lake and Frostproof have already made the move of eliminating their municipal police forces and turning over law enforcement to the Polk County sheriff. According to figures published in The Ledger, Frostproof taxpayers are saving 37 percent by making this move.

Sheriff Judd and his staff already know Lakeland very well. Currently, as I drive around within the Lakeland city limits, I see as many law-enforcement vehicles belonging to the Polk County sheriff as I see law-enforcement vehicles belonging to the Lakeland Police Department. Sheriff Judd, in terms of area coverage, is halfway there already. What about jobs for our Lakeland police officers, you may ask? In the takeovers of Polk City, Eagle Lake and Frostproof, I believe that Sheriff Judd has been able to employ everyone who was interested with the Sheriff's Office. The article points out a glaring error that the Bartow city commissioners are making, however. They are, according to The Ledger, going to allow the police officials to have a huge say in the matter of having Sheriff Judd take over. The proper approach is to model after corporate America, which would choose higher efficiencies and cost savings every time.

ALLAN DAVIS
Lakeland

As always, we are open to your comments and look forward to hearing from you.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Comments

[Karin Whitley]

Mr. Davis' numbers are off as the City's proposed 2008 budget is posted on their home page at www.lakelandgov.net. A city the size of Lakeland cannot be compared to that of Eagle Lake, Polk City and Frostproof. It's apples and oranges when you compare the size, source and scope of Lakeland's operating budget compared to one of the towns listed above. Before simply citing numbers as a reason to disband and allow the sheriff to absorb LPD, all aspects of this fine department must be looked at. I would suggest to Mr. Davis that he attend the Citizen's Police Academy and/or do some ride-alongs before wishing away LPD.

[Monty Mathis]

This push toward centralized law enforcement in a county is nothing new. Jacksonville did it many years ago. However their geographical layout made it a very viable solution to have many little agencies for all the small towns that were clustered within the Jax area. Polk County is a horse of a different color. Being one of the largest counties in the state creates a different environment for law enforcement from rural policing to inner city policing. Histroy has shown that the City of Lakeland and it's police department has always had its finger on the pulse of the community.

Polk deputies do an outstanding job of reactive law enforcement. However, due to the constraints of personnel, geographic area, and varying type of policing necessary in a large county you lose that personal contact that LPD officers have with their community.

Many officers know good guys and bad guys by their first names, know their families, know their friends and often times can find people by merely reaching out to the people they know in the neighborhood. Deputies often do not have that luxury, especially when they are going call to call.

I believe that historical statistics (if you are into stats)and word of mouth from the people who are and have been served by the officers of LPD will bear out the simple fact that their police department provides the best service available in the county.

Another factor to consider is that in the State of Florida, the Sheriff is still an elected official. Elected officials are subject to the whims and vagaries of lobbyists, power brokers,and their own personal agendas. Considering the the approval ratings of this country's Congress and President, do we really want an elected official in complete charge of county law enforcement?

Employees of Sheriff's Offices serve at the will of the Sheriff. They have no civil service protection and no guarantee of employment if someone doesn't like you. These situations often result in a high turnover rate, especially in agencies where the Sheriff may be incompentent, (anyone remember Dan Daniels?)

Although the driving force of Mr. Davis' proposal is saving money, money alone cannot be the sole factor in determining whether or not to consolidate law enforcement in any county. The real question here is whether or not the Sheriffs Office can do what LPD does and has done better. I doubt it.

[Asst Chief Bill LePere]

Thanks for your comments Chuck. Folks, you can read more from Chuck at www.lakelandlocal.com.

[Chuck Welch]

So we trade an award winning police department that answers to the citizens of the largest city in Polk County to become just another division of a county police department?

No thanks.

Mr. Davis cited some numbers in population and budget. Lakeland actually is closer to 100,000 (more if you count non-residents who work here). That would come to about $300 per person. In Polk County, the numbers I found on the sheriff's website state the 2004/2005 budget was $104389434 and the office was responsible for 330596 citizens. That's $315.76 per person. I don't see a great savings there. Do you?

Finally, while Mr. Davis believes "the proper approach is to model after corporate America" I certainly don't want to outsource my protection to the lowest bidder.