SALISBURY — Salisbury officials this week announced a series of personnel shifts and budget additions that will allow the city to put 15 more police officers on the streets in an attempt to continue toward the goal of reducing violent crime.
Mayor Jim Ireton, Jr. and Police Chief Barbara Duncan on Monday announced the 2014 Salisbury Police Department (SPD) Investment Funding Proposal, which is one of the highlights of the mayor’s proposed fiscal year 2015 budget. The proposal includes a budget transfer for the SPD and a budget amendment, which will ultimately expand the force by 15 officers.
Ireton’s proposed fiscal year 2015 budget would take a police recruiter position currently held by a sworn officer and make it a civilian position, which would allow the sworn officer to move back to patrol duty. A budget transfer of $277,000 would also allow the department to take four police dispatch positions currently held by sworn officers and make them civilian positions, adding four more sworn officers to patrol duty.
Finally, the proposal put forth by Ireton and Duncan on Monday would include a budget amendment of $832,822 to be spent on the hiring of 10 new officers. After the new officers are hired and trained, they would be put on active patrol duty. In all, the proposed staffing changes and additions would put 15 seasoned and new police officers on the streets of Salisbury over the next 18 months. In the short term, the transfer of the four police dispatchers and one police recruiter from sworn officers to civilians would add five patrol officers on the streets of Salisbury by July 1.
“Salisbury has seen a historic drop in violent crime over the past five years,” said Ireton on Monday. “Chief Duncan, Colonel Barkley and the entire Salisbury Police Department should be commended for their work.”
Ireton said while violent crime statistics continue to decline, forecasted population growth suggest the additional officers will be needed to continue the trend.
“As we come to the midpoint of this decade, knowing what we know about our population, how it will increase and how many people visit Salisbury in a single day, it is clear that reaching the goal of under 2,000 Part 1 crimes in a calendar year will take more resources,” Ireton said. “I am proud to support the proposal that will do just that and I am more than confident that the City Council will as well.”
Duncan praised Ireton for his initiative to add more patrol officers.
“This announcement is proof positive out mayor is committed to funding the Salisbury Police Department to produce long-term solutions which address staffing needs so that we can continue to reduce crime in Salisbury,” she said.