Can Prospect Hts. afford to rehire police?

Whether Prospect Heights can afford to recall police officers who have been laid off and how critical that is to safety in the city is one of the hottest issues for the April 5 municipal election.

Mayor Dolores “Dolly” Vole, who is seeking re-election, says the city is safe, there is not the funding to recall officers right now, and when more money is available, opening the police station to the public for at least some hours could be as important as increasing patrolling.

Nicholas Helmer, who is running against Vole in the April 5 election, disagrees with her on all three points, while write-in candidate Kurt Giehler differs with both of the other two candidates on police issues.

The city laid off six officers last fall after an arbitrator ruled furloughs instituted by the city violated its contract with the police union. The city has 16 sworn officers and a policy that at least three officers should be on the streets at all times.

The current police force is experienced and knows the community, said Vole. All the officers have at least 13 years on the force, and each can do all the jobs, from traffic to working with juveniles.

Vole said recalling the officer with the most seniority would cost $140,000 a year in salary and benefits. There’s no room in the $6 million 2011-12 general fund for that, she said, adding that even after cuts the city has a deficit of at least $20,000.

Helmer, meanwhile, says there is enough money to rehire two officers now, and maybe enough for three or four.

He said he is against spending so much money on overtime and having officers work 12-hour shifts. Vole countered that 12-hour shifts have been the norm for at least 10 years.

Helmer said crime will drop if there are more police officers. He is particularly worried that two officers who made a lot of gang arrests were among the layoffs.

Giehler said Prospect Heights is safe. He thinks the budget can be trimmed more but doesn’t know if enough can be cut to rehire police offices.

He thinks the city council could meet once a month, and he would drop the July Fourth parade, videotaping the council meetings and the newsletter. Even things done by volunteers require administrative support, said Giehler.

Prospect Heights’ general fund will get a $400,000 boost if voters agree to the bond issue on the April 5 ballot. The city is currently having to pull $400,000 out of the general fund each year to help pay off the back payments it owes the police pension fund.

The city is $5.5 million in arrears to the police pension fund, but the tax increase from a bond issue would cover that, allowing the city to keep $400,000 it currently is paying out.

Helmer said he supports the request because “it’s the only opportunity to fulfill our obligations.”

Giehler opposes the bond issue until the city has a strategic plan.

“Police officers are used as bait so they can increase taxes,” he said.

Vole said if the bond issue passes there would be money to recall several police officers. However, she said the fact that the police station is never open to the public is a bigger detriment to residents than the number of police on the streets.

If the department were to open for some hours with civilian or even volunteer staffing to take reports, that would free up officers’ time for patrolling, she said.

Helmer believes more officers on the street is a priority over opening the station. He fears the officers currently pulling so much overtime will burn out.

Vole argued that overtime was actually higher last year — in the first two pay periods of 2010 there were 535 hours of overtime, compared with 290 this year, she said.

Patrick J. Ludvigsen, candidate for Ward 4 alderman, agrees that the current rate of overtime could pay for the rehiring of an officer or two, and he added there also is money available from property seizers in drug arrests.

He doesn’t think opening the police station is a priority.

“The more police that we have on the street the less likely crimes of opportunity like breaking into cars or going into backyards,” he said. “If people never saw a police car, how much more speeding would there be?”

Vole said the drug money is already allocated for other police-related expenses such as the city’s contribution to Northwest Central Dispatch. She added that drug money doesn’t come in consistently enough to be relied upon to hire personnel.

Gerald Anderson, who is seeking re-election to the 4th Ward as a write-in candidate, did not return a call asking for comment. However, in a written statement he said the council should look into contracting with the Cook County sheriff’s office for additional police protection.

Richard Hamen, running for re-election as 1st Ward alderman, said he thinks the city’s finances are too precarious to recall police officers. He said, however, if the police chief thinks the overtime being paid would cover the cost of bringing two officers back he would seriously consider it.

Hamen agrees that the police station needs to be opened and officers also need to be recalled.

Luis Mendez, whom Hamen defeated as alderman four years ago and who is running for the seat again, said he does not think the city is safe enough. He also has heard residents complain about response time.

Mendez thinks that rehiring police officers is more important than opening the station.