Crime Is Up, Funding is Down

The Amherst Police Department has to address rising costs and criminal activity as it tries to climb out of their deficit and create their FY13 budget.

Amherst Police Chief Peter Lyon presented his departmental review to the Board of Selectmen on Monday, where he warned the board of the challenges they are facing.

According to Lyon, assaults have risen 25 percent since last year, thefts 40 percent, DWI 75 percent, shoplifting 145 percent and forgeries 200 percent.

“It has been a difficult year for us,” said Lyon.

Despite this rise in criminal activity as the community grows, he said his department has been providing the same services on a greater scale, and with the same number of man hours as was available in 1998.

Selectmen agreed that the police department is underfunded and understaffed.

“You are using the same staff as 13 years ago, that is not the way to be doing this,” said Chairman Bruce Bowler.

However, in his report, Lyon said that “increasing call volume without any increase in patrol hours will result in diminishing service.”

The department currently has 19 full-time staff and 4 part-time personnel on staff. Lyon said his department is short-staffed by one full-time officer, after one retired this past spring.

There has been a 20 percent increase in employer contribution rates for the New Hampshire Retirement System, which adds about $44,000 in additional cost for this year and next year.

Gasoline prices pose a huge problem for the department, with Lyon citing that even if prices do not go up, the gasoline line item will be underfunded by $14,000.

He estimates that if service is kept level, the budget will increase about 10 percent anyway due to these uncontrollable costs. Adding to the cost is the new union contract appearing in the budget for the first time in three years.

“Most are fixed increases I have very little control over short of making some very diff decision otherwise,” said Lyon. “It is challenging to say the least.”

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Selectman George Infanti.

Looking into the future, Lyon would like to add both patrol and clerical personnel to the department, as well as a canine officer program. Finally, he cites a need to increase space in both the locker rooms and training area.

We will have other town department reviews and their outlook on the upcoming budget coming for you throughout the week.