MIAMI TOWNSHIP — Police Departments across the country are experiencing a shortage of officers.
Some in the Miami Valley are asking for voters to approve levies in the May second primary to help increase their staff. One of those levis is on the ballot in Miami Township.
>> Classes cancelled at Tipp City Schools Friday for funeral of student who died after brief illness
News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott talked with the Miami Township Police Chief about the levy and the hopes those living in the township will back their levy.
Police Chief Charlie Stiegelmeyer said no one wants to be an officer anymore.
“I don’t know if I can blame them,” Stiegelmeyer said
>> ‘Benadryl Challenge’ takes the life of 13-year-old Ohio boy
The lack of perspective police officers is stretching his force thin.
“We have 32 sworn officers, and that includes myself as well as my command staff. We’re losing at the recruitment war,” Stiegelmeyer said
Stiegelmeyer said he would like around 45 or 50 officers on the force. To increase patrol, the chief hope voters greenlight a 5.75 mill levy. The levy would raise taxes to just over $6.00 monthly or about $70.00 yearly.
>> Person in critical condition after being trapped inside burning Dayton house
“Our goal is to this is to stabilize my workforce, retain the good quality, professional people that I have, and I want us to become a recruiting point,” Stiegelmeyer said
The force handles roughly 30,000 calls to the police a year, which is about 3,000 calls a month, and with only 20 officers, that is about 150 calls for each officer a month.
The levy would generate about $800,000.00 a year and would increase officers’ salaries, benefits, and equipment, but most importantly, Chief Stiegelmeyer says it would help the people.
>> Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin medically cleared to return to football after cardiac arrest
“I was a resident of Miami Township, I had to ask myself for this for mere fact of $6 a month or $73 a year; could I afford not to have this levy come to maintain the police service that I have? I think that’s the best question to ask yourself,” Stiegelmeyer said
If this levy passes, it will be continuous, meaning residents will never have to vote on it again unless they want the levy to end.
©2023 Cox Media Group
