Staff reductions had one police officer on night shift in Flomaton; council OKs two
With a decrease in police officers and an increase in crime the Flomaton Town Council voted Monday to pay overtime to insure at least two officers are on duty each shift until the council can hold a workshop and figure out how to bring the department up to full staff.
In 2017 the Flomaton Police Department had 10 full time officers. That number dropped to seven in 2018 which is actually six since Sgt. Chris Byrd is on military deployment.
Capt. Chance Thompson and Assistant Chief Bennie Stokes addressed the town council Monday about the staffing problems and the increase in crime and the decrease in solved crimes.
They pointed to the incident on Jan. 1 when a burglary occurred at Flomaton Small Engines. The alarm went off 4:19 a.m. and the only officer on duty was on a medical call at the far corner of the town's police jurisdiction. The suspect, who stole four chainsaws, was in and out of the store in 42 seconds.
“This issue could possibly have been resolved with the placement of two officers per shift,” Thompson pointed out in a slideshow presentation.
Thompson noted a 2012 FBI report said Flomaton needed 12.5 officers based on call volume and population.
He noted in 2017 and 2018 the department received reports of more than 200 burglaries, alarms and thefts in the police jurisdiction.
With 10 officers in 2017 the Flomaton Police Department received 394 reports of sexual, violent and suspicious crimes. In 2018 with seven officers the number jumped to 524 calls.
Thompson said so far the department has entered 185 activities into its system including 10 alarms, burglaries and criminal mischief.
Thompson also noted the clearing of cases dropped significantly. The statistics showed 69.14 percent of cases were cleared or solved in 2014, 69.41 percent in 2015, 62.20 percent in 2016 and 70 percent in 2017. The clearance rate dropped to 44.44 percent in 2018.
“In order for us to be able to defend against the current rise in crime we must have more manpower,” Thompson stated. “Criminals are smart and recognize patterns of solo officers.”
“With the current proven rise in crime in our town and the number of assaults toward law enforcement officers climbing across the nation, no officer should ever be alone on patrol,” Thompson said.
He also said so far this year six officers have been killed in the line of duty across the nation.
Thompson noted the current officers in Flomaton have more than 100 years of law enforcement experience and said Flomaton should be a department that gives others incentive to be employed here and also have excellent morale while working here.
“Starting tonight, no officer will be working by himself,” said Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr. “I know we will have to pay overtime, but I'd like to start that tonight.”
Bondurant also said he'd like to give Chief Bryan Davis the approval to hire three new officers.
Councilman Buster Crapps said he's been saying Flomaton needed to have at least two officers on each shift, especially at night.
Councilman Jim Johnson said the way crime is today, he'd prefer the town hire full time officers.
“I'll support two officers on duty at night,” Johnson said, “even if we have make cuts elsewhere.”
Johnson also said the town needed to offer incentives to keep officers instead of Flomaton being a revolving door with officers heading to other law enforcement departments.
“We need a workshop to see where we can cut to keep the police department staffed,” Johnson said.
“The problem is money,” Crapps said. “What are we going to cut? A workshop is needed.”
Crapps also said he agreed that beginning Monday night, two officers should be on duty.
“We've said this over and over again that we need two officers on duty at night,” said Councilwoman Lillian Dean. “Of these seven men, two can't be on the road at night? Is there any reason we don't have two at night?”
Town attorney Chuck Johns said with seven officers in Flomaton there can't be two officers on a shift 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“You can't put a price on safety,” Crapps said. “Run it like it ought to be run or shut it down. I don't want an officer shot down.”
Stokes said that while Flomaton has a mutual agreement with the Florida deputies in Century, there are times they are on calls and can't assist Flomaton.
Stokes also said other departments are soliciting Flomaton police officers, especially those with the most experience. He said at the county, deputies start out making $2 more per hour than officers in Flomaton.
“We're saturated beyond a saturation point,” Stokes said.
Councilman Charlie Reardon agreed two officers need to be on duty at night, noting he's been out on duty by himself at 3 a.m. and it's not safe.
“We need several workshops,” Bondurant said. “One for our police department and one for our whole staff.”
The council voted unanimously to immediately begin having two officers on duty at night and will set a date for a workshop.
