Batavia panel recommends hiring 2 cops

A Batavia committee this week recommended adding two police officers to the city's force.

Military and medical leaves have depleted an already thin force, Police Chief Gary Schira said.

"We're trying to make do," he said. "But the bottom line is we're Band-Aiding it."

Two sergeants in the National Guard have been called up to serve in Afghanistan and are likely to be overseas until early 2010, he said.

And two officers are on long-term medical leave, with one not expected to be back until late next year.

The force is small compared to other towns and there will only be a larger need when those officers come back, he said.

The new patrol officers would bring the city's department up to 45 and would cost the city an extra $67,809 this year, after military reimbursement.

"It is going to impact the budget. It will make things tighter," said Assistant City Administrator Randy Recklaus. "But it's something we need to do."

Several administrative and community service officers have been picking up patrol shifts to fill in, Schira said.

The office hasn't added an officer since 2004 and hasn't added officer positions since 1999, he said. Since then, patrol and programming needs have increased, he said.

The plan needs to be approved by the full city council and is scheduled to be discussed at a July 7 meeting.