PAGE 14 - March 7, 2012
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
Life Without the Inglis Police Department?
There is a lot of misinformation swirling around about what will happen if the Inglis Police Department (IPD) is replaced by the Levy County Sheriff’s Of-
fice (LCSO); which, by the way, is protection that we (as taxpayers in Levy County) are already paying for!
While no one knows for sure what the negotiation steps will be, the outcome is that the Levy County Sheriff will be in charge; the law requires it. There will be an
orderly transition of authority and responsibility from the Inglis Police Department to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. Also, please note that LCSO already has a
substation on US 19 just north of Inglis in the old Florida Highway Patrol building.
Florida State Law (Fl. Statute §30.49) that the “Board of County Commissioners [BOCC] may amend, modify, increase, or reduce any or all items of expenditure
in the proposed [Sheriff’s] budget.” In the event that the Sheriff is unresponsive to the residents of the Town of Inglis, Levy County’s BOCC can force his hand.
Additionally, the LCSO’s own website at http://www.levyso.com/adm_sheriff.html states:
1.
The county Sheriff is responsible for law enforcement on the county level.
2.
The Sheriff is employed by the county and is an elected position.
3.
The Sheriff has jurisdiction over the entire county to include the municipalities.
We’re paying for TWO police departments!
It’s important to understand that in the taxes currently paid to the Levy County Board of County Commissioners, the taxpayers of the Town of Inglis are already
paying for protection from the LCSO in addition to the taxes we’re paying to Inglis for protection from the IPD. With Levy County, 45 cents of every dollar goes to
the Sheriff Department. In Inglis, 35 cents of every dollar goes to IPD. We’re paying double. If IPD is dissolved, the taxpayers of Inglis will no longer be paying
for two police forces; we’ll be paying for the same Sheriff’s protection as Yankeetown.
According to their public commentary on the plans they have for future management of the LCSO, two of the three candidates for Levy County Sheriff are interested
in placing personnel so that locally employed deputies would live in and around Inglis. Please note that in the IPD, there are no policemen who are registered to vote
in Inglis! And, only one actually lives in Inglis or Yankeetown.
Anyone who meets all aspects of the qualification standards for law enforcement may apply for a new position with the LCSO. However, it should be noted that the
qualification standards for the LCSO are more stringent than are those for the IPD.
What Did Sheriff Johnny Smith Say?
Why would the Levy County Sheriff want to rock the boat when the taxpayers of Inglis are currently paying to subsidize his department (in that the IPD is doing
the Sheriff’s work, covering one-third of Levy County)? Of course he does not want change! Yet, if IPD is gone, he will do as he stated in the Feb, 2010 meeting
at Inglis Town Hall: he will fulfill his responsibility. As he said then, is Sheriff of the whole county. Unlike a Police Chief, the Sheriff is elected by the people and
for the people, based on his/her commitments to the people. The Sheriff is a smart man; he allocates resources where they’re needed. He may indeed need to hire
additional deputies to accomplish adequate police coverage for Inglis. There’s already infrastructure for a police station in Inglis. If IPD is dissolved, it’s possible
that the LCSO could have access to that portion of Inglis’s budget that’s already been allocated to support IPD.
What Does Yankeetown Have to Say?
To find out, listen to the audio of Yankeetown’s July 11, 2011 town meeting with guests Inglis Mayor Jim Williams and Police Chief Steve Dixon. This audio will
explain why Yankeetown chooses to get their protection from the LCSO instead of from the IPD. This audio can be found at http://www.yankeetownfl.govoffice2.
com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D108CB2B-C679-48A9-BBEC-169841B9FD37}&DE={4867D1B0-116C-4327-8CB5-6018ED9D7338}
In Inverness, Cost Went Down and Crime Also Went Down.
On January 19, 2012, a report in the Citrus County Chronicle entitled “Crime Numbers Fall in City of Inverness,” quoted Capt. Buddy Grant of the Citrus County
Sheriff Office (CCSO) as saying: “…2011 saw the second-highest year for arrests since the Sheriff’s Office absorbed the Inverness Police Department. In 2010
there were 728 arrests [by CCSO]. 2003, there were [only] 174 arrests under the city police department.” Grant said, “We had a decrease in crime in every area
and a significant decrease in commercial burglaries --- the fewest number of commercial burglaries in the nine years we’ve been doing this.” Despite budget cuts
and reducing staff by three patrol positions, said crime is down in the city limit. City councilwoman Linda Bega said, “With the budget (cuts) we were worried
what services would be cut, but from your report tonight, numbers are even better.” The full article can be found at http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/report-
crime-numbers-fall-city-inverness
In a comment posted on the internet on 1/19/12, “CrystalK” wrote: “Nice to know that crime is down in the city. It sounds like the City of Inverness and the Sher-
iff’s Department have a good working relationship and that this works well to keep things safer in the city. It’s amazing that the City spent less money this year, but
crimes still went down! Great job, Sheriff’s deputies! Keep it up, Capt. Grant.”
What Has Crystal River’s Experience Been So Far?
Crystal River cut law enforcement cost by almost $618,000, a 36% savings … and crime also went down. Elizabeth McBride,Deputy Clerk of City of Crystal
River writes: “For that cost we have coverage of 10 deputies with patrol autos 24/7 with a basic minimum requirement of 2 deputies present in the city at all times.”
McBride also reports that in FY 2009 the Crystal River Police Department cost $1,707,410 and in FY 2011-12 the contract with CCSO cost Crystal River only
$1,089,158 – resulting in the savings above.
The Citrus County Chronicle reported on 02/1/2012: “He [Crystal River City Manager, Andy Houston] says he is satisfied with the service from the sheriff’s office.”
If the City Manager can’t report positive results in all categories to the Crystal River Mayor and Commission, he recommends course corrections to fix problems.
The current working relationship that Crystal River has with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office for police protection is obviously working well for everyone, while
saving money, providing higher quality trained deputies, and lowering crime statistics. The full article can be found at http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/
crystal-river-raises-police-cost-issue
In Contrast, How’s It Going Now For Inglis?
IPD’s Chief Steve Dixon reported to the State Attorney that in the 3½ year period from January 1, 2008 through September 16, 2011, less than 10% of arrests
made by the IPD actually resulted in convictions! Would you keep an employee that was only successful 10% of the time? Turning this around, would you keep
an employee that was unsuccessful 90% of the time?
RECAP
Think about all the above, then ask yourself: would you keep an organization that costs $350,000 a year and that was only successful 10% of the time?
[ TO DISSOLVE THE IPD, VOTE
“YES” ON MARCH 13 \
Paid Political Ad by Concerned Citizens of Inglis (CCOI), PAC, NPA Approved by Ron Cooper, Assistant Treasurer.