Crime & Safety

Sturtevant Part Time Police Officer Cut for 2012

Like neighboring villages, Sturtevant's police force is below the FBI recommended average.

When Police Chief Sean Marschke joined the department in 1992, the village staffed 10 officers.

Since then, however, the number of uniform officers patrolling Sturtevant has dropped to nine. The village did fund a part time officer for 2011, but that position has been eliminated for 2012 for a savings of about $12,000.

"We can't keep up," said Marschke. "And our daytime numbers are higher because of people who come into the village to work."

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Population in Sturtevant is officially at 6,970, up from 5,287, an increase of 24 percent. According to FBI recommendations, the village should staff two officers for every 1,000 residents, which would mean a full, sworn department of 14. Back in 1992, Marschke pointed out, the village was better staffed at 10 officers for a population of around 3,500.

"Average call volume was around 400, but those numbers keep going up," Marschke added. "If we get a mental illness commitment or a violent crime, we have to get help from other agencies to take more routine calls."

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Sturtevant police calls numbered 481 in June 2011; 458 in July 2011; 541 in August 2011; and 528 in September.

Marschke did apply for a Community Oriented Policing Services grant (COPS) to add another officer to his ranks, but the village was not chosen as a recipient. Under the rules of the grant, the officer would be fully funded, salary and benefits, for three years. Sturtevant would have to agree to provide the funding for the fourth year.

There's good news and bad news in that, though, Village President Steve Jansen said.

"Oh, yeah, we need to have another few officers," he agreed. "In a more normal economy, we might be able to plan, but with the way things are right now, it's almost impossible to look 36 or 48 months into the future."

As for whether or not Sturtevant should consider merging its police with Mount Pleasant similar how South Shore Fire Department came together, Marschke said it's not a good idea.

"That's actually a good example of why not to merge," he said. "Sturtevant is having to juggle rising costs that they have no control over. When you have a dedicated department, the Village Board gets full authorization."


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