Kalispell aims for four new police officers

Kalispell police hope to add two new officers in fiscal 2008 - and an additional two officers if a federal grant program surfaces again after a hiatus.

That program is Community-Oriented Police Services - COPS - that gives grants to local police forces, usually to pay for extra officers.

If Congress approves a new $1 billion COPS fund, then the Kalispell Police Department plans to apply for grant money to pay for most costs involving two extra officers, with the city supplying at least 20 percent of those costs, Police Chief Roger Nasset told the City Council on Thursday.

City Parks Director Mike Baker also briefed the council on his department's proposed budget. And two community organizations requested some city funds from the fiscal 2008 budget, which goes into effect July 1.

No action was taken at Thursday's briefings. The council possibly will adjust and vote on the city's proposed overall fiscal 2008 budget of $63.246 million - down from fiscal 2007's predicted $65.028 million - over the next few weeks.

Here is how the police budget picture - proposed to increase from $3.34 million in fiscal 2007 to $3.515 million in fiscal 2008 without any COPS money - unfolded Thursday.

The Kalispell Police Department has 47 employees, including 34 sworn officers.

Montana's Board of Crime Control recommends that a city of Kalispell's size should have two sworn officers for each 1,000 residents. With a population of 20,000, Kalispell should have 40 sworn officers under this formula.

But Kalispell's overall budget will allow only two new officers to be hired for fiscal 2008, which would bring that total to 36, said Nasset and City Manager Jim Patrick. If Congress approves the $1 billion COPS fund, Kalispell will try to obtain enough money for two additional officers to reach 38.

The officer shortage leads to more officers working overtime to fill the minimum staffing requirements of each shift, Nasset said.

Crime and arrests in Kalispell are increasing. Police figures show that the department:

. Received 20,092 calls for service in 2001, 20,478 calls in 2004 and 26,037 calls in 2006.

. Made 1,736 arrests in 2001, 1,788 arrests in 2004 and 1,975 arrests in 2006.

. Had a detective caseload of 351 cases in 2001, 445 cases in 2004 and 608 cases in 2006.

Patrick said detectives posted a 78 percent clearance rate in 2006 - meaning the cases are resolved in some way, with the most common resolution being an arrest. The national clearance rate is slightly less than 50 percent, he said.

A partial reason for the high clearance rate is that the current police quarters are cramped in one segment of City Hall, causing patrol officers and detectives to constantly talk with each other and share information, Patrick and Nasset said.

This fall, most of the city's administration is scheduled to moved to the renovated former Wells Fargo building down the block, and the police and fire department will greatly expand their spaces in the current City Hall. Nasset and Patrick said the police will try to keep the same constant and tight internal communication after the expansion.

The police plan to replace two patrol cars with mileages greater than 115,000 miles.

Also Thursday, the council heard:

. Baker outline a proposed $1.911 million parks and recreation budget for fiscal 2008 - up from $1.736 million in fiscal 2007.

This proposal covers parks in general, the Kalispell Youth Athletic Complex that will add several ballfields in fiscal 2008, a significantly growing youth camp program, growing soccer programs, the Woodland Water Park, planting 225 trees, and scouting future park lands as Kalispell grows.

. Requests from the Conrad Mansion and the Kalispell Lakers American Legion baseball team.

The Conrad Mansion asked for $40,000 to help with a $76,000 siding project.

The Lakers asked for $20,000 to improve the safety of the team's ballfield dugouts and another $10,000 for new backstop netting. The Lakers indicated they are willing for share some costs, Baker said.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com