The Hollister Police Department has been understaffed for years,
however a recent rise in gang-related violence has highlighted the
department’s inability to adequately address the problem and has
some city officials wondering if the time for tax talk is here.
Hollister – The Hollister Police Department has been understaffed for years, however a recent rise in gang-related violence has highlighted the department’s inability to adequately address the problem and has some city officials wondering if the time for tax talk is here.
Currently, the department has 26 able-bodied sworn officers, including the police chief and two captains, out of 32 slotted positions, according to Police Chief Jeff Miller. A constant flux of Injuries, vacancies or disabilities keep Hollister’s staffing levels at nearly half the national average of 1.5 officers per 1,000 people.
As Hollister’s population and crime rate grows, staffing levels have stayed the same – hindering officers’ ability to proactively combat a growing gang problem while contining to respond to all the other crimes. It becomes more of a concern with each passing day, Miller said.
“We’re so short staffed the resources we put toward the gang problem have to be diverted to handling some of the other crimes, so in a way they’re (victims) affected by the gang problem too, even if they’re not affected by gang crime directly,” Miller said. “The opportunity to be proactive and have a larger, more visible presence to deter the crime – we’re not able to do that right now.”
Over the past month, Hollister police responded to three gang-related shootings and one gang-related stabbing, and law enforcement officials have reported an increase in gang-related activity in Hollister and throughout the region. Hollister police have yet to make any arrests in the four attempted murders.
And due to a widespread knowledge that Hollister often has only two or three cops on patrol during a shift, officials say Hollister has become a hot property for gang members looking to hawk their illegal wares and carry out crimes. Rick Maddux, a member of Hollister’s gang task force – which was formed a year ago in the hopes of soliciting community support and increasing awareness of the problem – believes more police need to be on the streets to actively combat gangs.
“It’s an integral part of the problem,” Maddux said. “Hollister has gained the reputation of not having adequate law enforcement and it draws folks from other cities that have been successful in running some of the gang folks out of town.”
Maddux said some type of public safety tax that would supplement the police department’s $5.9 million annual budget and allow administrators to hire more officers warrants looking into.
Hollister City Councilman Brad Pike said the possibility of a tax specifically for public safety has been batted around by government officials off and on for some time, but said if the idea came to a head he’d be all for it. However, he does not believe the public is informed enough about the problem to approve one at this time.
“We’d have start campaigning to let them (residents) know. I don’t want to hide anything from the community,” Pike said. “We’ve got to take some drastic measures and if they think the crime won’t increase they’re silly. We’ve got to nip it now or become a Salinas.”
Salinas has been combating a serious gang problem for 20 to 30 years. Due to law enforcement’s strict posture regarding gang activity within the city, Salinas police say gang members have been migrating to other areas such as Hollister where police are less equipped to handle gang violence.
Miller said other communities have implemented taxes to increase both police and fire staffing levels, but the public needs to examine their priorities regarding city services before officials begin serious discussions one way or another.
“I think this is something people need to discuss with their neighbors and examine what level of public safety they really want, then look at ways to fund that level,” Miller said. “Individuals need to answer it for themselves. At what time are we done saying it’s a shame and saying we as a community need to do something about it? Until that changes the men and women of the police department are going to continue to do the best they can with the resources available. We deliver the service commensurate with the level of resources we’re given.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
