News
MADEIRA BEACH — Community policing is returning to the city, largely in response to continuing resident complaints about rising crime.
On Feb. 27, Deputy Shawn Heffner will become Madeira Beach's new community policing officer as the result of a unanimous City Commission vote Wednesday.
"Since coming on board, police issues have taken 50 percent of my time," City Manager Shane Crawford told the commission, urging them to reinstate a community policing program that was abandoned in 2008 to save money.
Since then, Crawford said crime statistics show an increase in crime.
"I don't know if it is a coincidence that this started when you guys did away with a community policing officer but those times coordinate," Crawford said.
He "strongly recommended" the city spend about $54,000 to hire an additional sheriff's deputy over the next seven months to serve as a community policing officer.
"The amount of crime that's being reported by our citizenry in comparison to the two deputies that are responsible for traffic and all other policing-type responsibilities is proving to be too much to handle and maintain," Crawford said.
By trying the community policing program on a trial basis through the remainder of the current budget year, the city could evaluate whether the additional law enforcement coverage would effectively reduce crime in the city.
Throughout the past year, residents have complained in public meetings about drug dealers operating in their neighborhoods.
"They don't feel anything has been done," said Commissioner Nancy Oakley.
A community policing officer "can make a big difference," said Mayor Travis Palladeno.
"We would be making a major mistake if you guys don't go for this," resident Brian Bornamann told the commission.
Marsha Loper, a resident who helped revive the city's Neighborhood Watch program, said the additional cost for hiring a community policing officer is "worth it."
Jim Madden, a former city manager who most recently served as the city's interim city manager, opposed the recommendation.
"Our (current) deputies are doing a fantastic job. I don't see how community policing will help us," Madden said, adding that his neighborhood watch group was "not necessarily in support of this."
Sheriff's Lt. Joseph Gerretz explained that a community policing officer would not respond to regular calls, but rather focus on a variety of issues identified by the city manager or by the city's regular deputies.
"A community policing deputy is not always involved in law enforcement related activities. His responsibilities could range from noise to speeding, to drug activity to solicitation on the boardwalk," Gerretz said.
The officer's schedule could change from day to day or week to week, depending on the issues needing to be addressed — in addition to the two deputies assigned by the Sheriff's Office each shift to patrol the city around the clock.
The city closed its police department in 1995, which then cost about $1 million a year to operate.
Since then, the city has contracted with the Sheriff's Office for law enforcement at a cost that is only now approaching the previous cost of an independent police department.
For a brief period, an additional deputy also patrolled the city's neighborhoods and business community under a federal community policing program grant. When that money ran out, the city opted in 2008 to discontinue the community policing program.
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