POLICE RECRUITMENT: EMPHASIS OF 2022 PLANNING

The West Chester Police Department is primarily funded by a levy approved by voters specifically for police services. In 2020 expenses for the department were about $12 million. This is much less than the $14.8 million in 2019 mostly because $2 million from the CARES Act was used for police personnel costs that otherwise would have come from the Police Levy Fund.

The Police levy brings in $16.6 million in property taxes each year largely due to the 2.0 mill levy voters approved in November 2020. Police expenditures were greater than revenues in both 2018 and 2019 and while carryover made up the difference, the new levy is expected to alleviate any shortfall in the coming years.

Each year, the Police Department allocates about $450,000 for the replacement of high mileage vehicles and vehicles that are no longer fit for service.

The greatest expense of the department of course is personnel making up about 85% of the Police Department budget. The West Chester Police Department budgets for 102.5 positions.

More than 30% of the department’s employees have five years or less experience with West Chester and 50% have more than 16 years with the department.

“The future continues to present some challenges for the police department – attracting the best officer candidates to serve, assembling a team that is reflective of our community; and guarding critical institutional knowledge as so many of our officers near retirement,” said Police Chief Joel Herzog.

Law enforcement agencies around the country face issues recruiting police officers to serve, as fewer people enter the field and others leave the profession. West Chester typically sees more qualified applicants than many surrounding jurisdictions, but recruitment continues to be central to the efforts of the department.

With so many West Chester officers approaching retirement, the Township has made important use of the retire/rehire practice to benefit from institutional knowledge of long-time employees, while retaining experienced officers at a reduced salary. In 2019, the police department saved more than $150,000 by accepting retire/rehire of longtime officers; and in 2020 an additional $120,000 in savings was realized from the program.

If interested in becoming a police officer, learn more at www. westchesteroh.org/police.

West Chester Police respond to more than 40,000 calls for

Auto Thefts & Thefts From Autos

West Chester Police continue to work alongside other regional agencies to investigate multiple auto thefts that occurred during the fall months and theft from auto is consistently one of the most common crimes in our community.

A few simple precautions, however, can considerably reduce risk of becoming a victim of this type of crime.

In nearly every case of car theft, police report that vehicles were left unlocked with key fobs inside the car. Valuables left in unsecured vehicles are also likely to be stolen.

“We are investigating the crimes and criminals will be prosecuted,” service each year. In 2020, they made 300 drug-related arrests, 211 arrest for the more serious Part 1 crimes; and 864 arrests for Part 2 crimes. Crime data by neighborhood is available at www. westchesteroh.org/DIG.

Live The Dream: MLK Day

For more than two decades, the communities of West Chester and Liberty townships have annually commemorated the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Friends and neighbors are invited to walk side-by-side in an MLK Day march and come together for a special program on the day of the federal holiday. This year’s march begins at Cabela’s on Tyler’s Place at 10 a.m. and will continue to the Liberty Center mall.

In lead up to the January event, students in grades K-12 who attend Lakota Local Schools or live in the district are encouraged to enter the Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity art & writing contest. A keynote address and special awards ceremony recognizing student contest winners and their work is part of the Monday program, which follows the morning outdoor march for unity.

Bring your family for the MLK Day activities and/or become part of the Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity planning committee. Find complete information at livethedreamwcl.weebly.com and connect on social media with #MLKdayWCL.

said Police Chief Joel Herzog. “But there is no place safe enough to leave your car unsecured.”

Police are encouraging residents to secure vehicles at all times and remove valuables. In cases experienced in the past few months, criminals have stolen cars and also have gotten away with computers, purses, wallets and even firearms that were left unsecured in vehicles.

“Even when you’re home, keep the garage doors closed and your car locked,” Chief Herzog shared.