NEWS ANALYSIS
MARK SCHUMANN
They say you don’t need a police officer until you do. In the past, if and when the citizens of Vero Beach have needed the help of a dedicated, well-trained police officer, they have always been able to count on the Vero Beach Police Department.
Some have begun to wonder, though, just how much longer the city’s Police Department will be able to provide an exceptional level of service in the face of steep and persistent budget cuts.
Recently, Mayor Craig Fletcher voted with Vice Mayor Tracy Carroll and Councilwoman Pilar Turner to eliminate four civilian positions from the Police Department. These staff reductions are in addition to ten sworn officer positions that have already been cut. Less than a week before voting to cut the positions, Fletcher was on a local radio program pleading with citizens to attend the Council’s budget workshops in order to help him prevent the cuts. “It is as if they (presumably Carroll and Turner) are trying to run the city into the ground,” Fletcher said.
Though the Mayor’s revolving mind remains inexplicable, what is clear is that the elimination of ten sworn officer positions in the past few years is taking a toll on the Police Department’s performance.
Police Chief David Currey maintains a stiff upper lip, as he seeks to comply with the City Council’s directives, but it is impossible to ignore statistics that reveal a troubling trend.
Citations, for example, are steadily declining, down from 3820 in 2008 to 1461 in 2012. Is this because officers are now more kindly disposed to hand out warnings instead? Hardly. Since 2008, the number of warnings issued by the Vero Beach Police Department has dropped from 3156 to 1270. Over the same period, arrests fell from 988 to 599.
Some argue the dramatic decrease in citations, warnings and arrests is due to lower crime rates. This is a false assumption. While certain categories of crime have fallen, the rates have not dropped 62 percent, and certainly there are no fewer cars and trucks on city streets now than there were in 2008.
Because the city is largely built out, its population has remained stable for more than a decade. Some point to this fact to suggest the work of the Police Department has leveled off. But, as the unincorporated areas of Indian River County surrounding the city have continued to develop, the city, being both the county seat and the business center, bustles with more traffic and commerce with each passing year.
Considering the dramatic drop in citations, warnings and arrests, it seems clear the City Council’s decision to reduce the number of sworn officer by some 20 percent has forced the Police Department to become a reactive, rather than proactive.
Even though there are now 10 fewer officers patrolling city streets and neighborhoods, the Council continues to make further cuts, all of which will likely put more burden on already thinly stretched resources. For example, with the elimination of the animal control officer position, the city’s remaining 52 offices will now be spending valuable, limited time chauffeuring feral cats to the Human Society, which is located some 10 miles north of the city.
Officers will also be taking on the clerical work of a records specialist who is set to lose her job September 30. Rather than spending more time proactively patrolling streets and neighborhoods, offices will be stuck inputting records and maintaining case files.
The proposed elimination of a crime scene technician will likely cause a further decrease in services. Some are concerned the plan to have officers do their own crime scene investigations will lead to a decrease in what has been an enviable clearance rate of more than 40 percent, a rate nearly twice that of the other law enforcement agencies in the county.
The elimination of 10 sworn officer positions, from 62 to 52, has negatively impacted services in other ways, as well. The Police Department no longer has a traffic unit, a motorcycle patrol officer, or a back up K9 unit. Training has been reduced as well, a short-term cost cutting measure that some argue puts at risk the safety of police officers and the citizens they are sworn to protect.
Indian River Guardian 
Every week I cross Barber Bridge to check on a friend’s house. The 45 mph speed limit on that bridge has few followers. Westbound on the bridge, the 45mph sign has been covered (east end of bridge) because of work being done on that side, I assume. Part of the way the right lane is closed. I’ve seen numerous vehicles ignoring the 35 mph that apparently is what they should be driving until both lanes are clear – and where there is a 45 mph sign. I’m sure the VBPD has better things to do than post someone at that bridge and issue tickets. Am just sorry we forget there’s a reason for the posted signs and choose to ignore them. I would hate to see Vero turn into Dodge City before “law & order” but if the 3 of 5 continue to insist on irrational cuts in service and personnel, look out.
As usual, I have a different take on this. I agree with Cathy about the blatant disregard for speed limits. I am amazed daily at the red lights run, lanes crossed, etc. My theory is that the police department’s program is to ignore traffic infractions for the most part, which explains the huge drop in citations, in favor of keeping officers “rolling”. This is how the response time is improved. The downside is that reverues from tickets are way down, and people are generallyat more risk from these reckless drivers. Don’t get me started on texting!
Anthony–What you say makes sense. You put your resources – limited as they’ve become – where they are needed for responding to more serious criminal infractions quickly. You do the best you can with what you have to work with. Texting or just one-handed driving because phone to ear – irritates me no end. Two hands on the wheel – that’s the deal.
I am really surprised that after the tragic murder of Brian Simpson in his own house on Central Beach the City Council could could cut back our Vero Beach Police Dept at all. Where is the outcry ! This may be a summer strategy with so many residents traveling and vacationing in July and August.
its not just the city. its also state wide and county wide.
Can you confirm that citations are down 62 percent since 2008 in the Sheriff’s Office and across the state? Are you saying the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement agencies across the state have reduced the number of officers on the street by 18 percent since 2008?
The Sheriff’s Office recently receive a significant budget increase to pay for raises. In contrast, the Vero Beach City Council, in addition to not giving raises, is looking to further cut spending in the Police Department. Unlike the Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office is not constantly under attack as the scape goat for any and all budget challenges. Recently, Glen Brovont, who came before the Council and identified himself as a member of the Finance Commission, said the time may soon come when the City should fire the Police Chief and tell his entire staff to take a hike. I cannot believe this level of animosity toward public employees in general, and law enforcement offices specifically, is prevalent “state wide.”
the state of florida has closed prisons and consolidated the inmates. the different branches of state level law enforcement person has eliminated positions. from fled, fhp and also atf. im against that but it has been done.mark im saying the state has reduced not the sheriff.
remember the state and cities all work together on some crimes. often the state’s atf does work to reduce drug issues locally. if they don’t the county picks up the tab.
But you did make reference to the county, as well as the state. “…state wide and county wide,” you wrote. You say it “has” to be done, but perhaps it is more accurate to say it “had” to be done. Many municipal government are hiring back police officer and fire fighters, now that property values are rising and the economy is improving. When he took office, Governor Scott cut funding for education. This year, though, he pushed for more than $1 billion in raises for teachers. We don’t want to get stuck living in the past, or fixated on the rearview mirror. If further spending cuts now are going to be blamed on the economic downturn of 2008, then why not blame them on the crash of 1929?
Odessa
Your facts are completely untrue. Not all cities work together on some crimes and FDLE conducts their own investigations. In fact it is very rare that they work with local agencies unless it’s a follow up on a officer involved shooting. In reference to the drug issues ATF does not investigate narcotics they investigate Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Further more if they do make a case it’s a result of a local agency making the initial arrest then the ATF coming in and following up. Every agency for the most part has their own narcotics unit it is more efficient that way.
Although you are correct about the state reducing officers but do you know the background? Scott went to all the Sheriff’s in the state of Florida and asked them to hire the state law enforcement officers (DOT, FHP, ETC). However, all of the Sheriffs realized this is a bad idea. There is a big difference working a traffic crash compared to a homicide or a domestic battery.