Washtenaw County sheriff expresses concerns about potential cuts to public safety in open letter
As Washtenaw County grapples with a $20.9 million structural deficit over the next two years after already cutting $30 million, Sheriff Jerry Clayton says general fund money that historically has supported public safety is becoming increasingly limited.
"The simple reality is that there is not enough money to support all of the police services that are important to our communities," he writes in an open letter to the community, highlighting the public safety challenges facing Washtenaw County. "It is a reality shared by us all, both jurisdictions within the county that have their own law enforcement operations as well as those that are contract partners with the county and sheriff’s office."
Jerry Clayton
Clayton's letter points out some of the staffing changes in the sheriff's office in recent years. He notes Ypsilanti Township contracted for 44 deputies in 2008 and 31 in 2010, while Augusta Township contracted for two deputies in 2008 and none in 2010.
The sheriff's office had 145 deputies assigned to police services in 2008 and 124 in 2010, Clayton writes. That's similar to what has happened at other agencies, including the Ann Arbor Police Department, which went from 216 officers in 2000 to 124 in 2010, and the Ypsilanti Police Department, which went from 39 officers in 2007 to 31 in 2010, Clayton points out.
At a certain point, Clayton says, reduced police staffing will place people, property, quality of life and economic development at risk. It's his opinion that the county has reached that point.
"To a degree, crime victimization tends to follow economic recession," Clayton writes. "And, accordingly, any significant reduction in police services presents an untenable and counterproductive scenario to the sheriff’s office and the residents of Washtenaw County we proudly serve. This is particularly true for those who are the direct victims of crime. But make no mistake; we all pay for it both financially, with a loss of economic development, and personally with an increased sense of the fear of crime, social disorder and violence."
- Click here to read Clayton's full letter.
Clayton acknowledges in his letter that major crimes in Washtenaw County have not increased. In fact, in the categories of aggravated assault, arson, breaking and entering, larceny/retail fraud, auto theft, robbery, and criminal sexual conduct, the numbers went down in 2010 from 2009. The only major category that ticked up was murder, which went from three to four.
Depending on the severity of staffing reductions in the next round of cuts, Clayton says, the implications for Washtenaw County residents may include delayed responses to crimes such as retail fraud, auto theft, larcenies, identity theft, or burglary, and reduced ability to conduct follow-up investigations and proactively patrol communities.
The county is projecting a $20.9 million structural deficit over the next two years — the equivalent of about 207 full-time positions.
While it may be true the county has fewer deputies assigned to police services than it did a few years ago, county records show the sheriff's office staff has jumped from 280 to 316 employees since 2009. The main reason for the increase has been the county jail expansion.
Records also show the county had 1,392 full-time employees as of Dec. 30, including about 646 in the general fund. That's a slight increase from the 1,333 employees the county had in 2005, including about 630 in the general fund, records show.
The county board has made no decisions about how it will close the looming budget deficit. In an open letter of his own, County Board Chairman Conan Smith, D-Ann Arbor, recently wrote that public safety remains a top priority of the board.
"The board is prioritizing programs that provide both physical safety and more general feelings of security," he wrote. "Specifically in our conversations we elevated public safety and mental health services, reflecting the different ways that the board approaches the question of individual security. Programs that dynamically and creatively bridge physical safety and emotional security will likely find better favor with the board."
The union that represents Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies recently agreed to a freeze in pay for the next two years and other concessions expected to save the county nearly $4.43 million over the next four years.
Deputies have agreed to start sharing the cost of their health care premiums for the first time starting in 2013, with each employee paying $50 a month — that's expected to save $168,000 a year in both 2013 and 2014.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
jcwest32
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 : 6:01 a.m.
Maybe someone should look at numbers this year alone. If I recall right from reading on this site, there has already been 3 or maybe 4 murders already in the area policed by the Sheriff's Office. "Snoopdog" The Sheriff's Office went years without taking a pay raise. They did not take one when other unions in the county did in the past couple of years. A raise was supposed to kick in and the Deputies gave the rasie up before it kicked in to help out with the troubled times. Basic health care is required/provided by the county. If you upgrade to something better, the Deputy has to pay the difference. The Deputies are now off setting the cost of health care that is required by the county on top of paying for the difference of the health care that is upgraded by the Deputy.
Mike
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 11:28 p.m.
First thing politicians cut when they need more money is police and fire. Hang onto your wallets folks. Traffic enforcement won't be cut because it is the largest revenue generator. All you have to do is follow the money...........
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 6:50 a.m.
RE: ""To a degree, crime victimization tends to follow economic recession," Clayton writes. "And, accordingly, any significant reduction in police services presents an untenable and counterproductive scenario to the sheriff's office and the residents of Washtenaw County we proudly serve." -- The trends graphic contradicts Sheriff Clayton's assertion. I know it's impossible for officials to catch every single slip up but I do think our sheriff is prone to this kind of oversight. Next: other than that, the Sheriff is correct. And we know (as evidenced by the votes given to Murrow's Ghost, catfhisrisn and DonBee) that political propaganda about cutting taxes is behind the current crisis in public services. Regardless of what the Republicans "think" or want us to think: we cannot allow any one political party to buy votes by cutting taxes while causing public services and a working government to collapse. We WILL BE in deep trouble if we the public don't cut this nonsense off at the knees.
Mike
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 11:29 p.m.
Higher taxes for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
snapshot
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 5:55 a.m.
I'm so confused. Our city leadership is doing nothing to control costs. They did finally table the financing of a poorly planned library lot hotel/conference center. It's a start. Then they pay 245K a year for a school superintendant with the reasoning of "you have to pay for quality". What a crock! These public entities have been leapfrogging increasing compensation plans using other public pay plans as stepping stones. It's time we saw salaryreductions for government workers. I think we could have gotten a quality superintendent for a lot less than 245K per year. How will we know until we try. We also need to tighten up on the contract terms and conditions to eliminate lucrative severence packages. Someone needs to start minding the store and quit handing out taxpayer money without getting anything in return. Yes I think government employees could do more with less and with the same quality if they were motivated to perform with accountability, objective (real) performance reviews, consequences for non performance, and reducing union influence.
KeepingItReal
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 11:06 p.m.
Maybe I read this wrong or didn't understand the posted chart, but it seems that major crimes except for murder has either stayed the same or has gone down. I know public safety is important but this seems to be another scare tactic to protect the budget. If crime has not increased in these economic times why don't we spend some time trying to understand why it has not increased and then continue to do what is being done to contain it and possibly lower it even further. History has proven that throwing more money into law enforcement does not have a significant impact on crime. Maybe there are some other factors at work that we need to be cognizant before we get scared into opening the checkbook.
snoopdog
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 11:04 p.m.
"Deputies have agreed to start sharing the cost of their health care premiums for the first time starting in 2013, with each employee paying $50 a month — that's expected to save $168,000 a year in both 2013 and 2014." Wow Sheriff, the police union is really bending over backwards for the taxpayers. They are paying 50 dollars a month toward their healthcare and you want me to be thankful for that , ROFL ? I pay $350 per month for lousy Blue Cross insurance with high individual and family deducts. And a two year pay freeze ? I have not had a raise in 6 years and I don't have a pension nor healthcare when I retire , if I ever get to retire. Good Day
Mr. Ed
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 12:57 a.m.
Snop you should have entered law enforcement.
leaguebus
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
So far in the last month or so, we have heard from the Sheriff and the ex AA Police Chief telling us that we have been lucky so far, but further cuts in public safety will eventually start to have an effect. The effect will not be a reduction in crime. How can we consolidate something that is already cut to the bone? AA is down 100 Officers, State Police are down many hundreds, and the Country Road Patrol is being nickled and dimed to death by the townships who do not want to raise taxes for their protection. Eventually something big will start happening and then all the citizens will be crying about the lack of Police protection. Time to so something about that now, before that something happens.
REBBAPRAGADA
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
I am surprised to read that we are looking at this issue of funding for our Police as a local issue. We live in a country which is psending millions of dollars everyday to protect some unknown people in a place called Libya. The country is defending them by the use of expensive aerial fire power and munitions and not by employing Police. Probably, we should defend our local community and protect our people by using this fire power which the country believes is good for Libyan people.
Awakened
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : noon
And Afghanistan,and Iraq, oh and we still have people in Bosnia from the 1990's and in Germany from the 1940's.
KMHall
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 5:23 p.m.
Will this news prompt an increase in gun sales? Back to the Wild West as America spirals?
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 7:05 a.m.
Factually speaking, it's worth noting that "an increase in gun sales" has been going on for nearly ten years, along with a 500% increase in the number of concealed pistol licenses. (Check the MI State Police website: they track this information). BTW- it wasn't legal gun ownership which created the "wild west" : it was the illegal ownership and use of guns.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 8:55 p.m.
uggh again with the "wild west"... Really? Gun ownership is at an all time high. Violent crimes have been dropping all the while. Are the 2 related? Debatable. Not debatable is that there has been no wild west ok corral blood in the streets.... The stats are out there. CDC, FBI etc help yourself to some facts for your rhetoric.
braggslaw
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
He is worried about his job
Justice4all
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 4:28 a.m.
Or could he be worried about the community? If I'm not mistaken all county elected officials get paid the same no matter how many staff they have.
braggslaw
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 12:12 a.m.
then he is worried about his pay
Mr. Ed
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
The Sheriff is elected and we will always have a Sheriff because the Sheriff runs the jail.
Huron74
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 5:13 p.m.
Has there even been a court ruling in MI on this issue? Whether sheriff's are obligated to provide law enforcement in unincorporated areas?
Angela Barbash
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 4:28 p.m.
Article XVII Section 4 of the Michigan Constitution says that each organized county must elect a Sheriff who is charged first and foremost with the job of 'keeping the peace'. They have jurisdiction to enforce all the laws within the borders of the counties. Case law does say that the Sheriff is primarily responsible for the maintenance of law and order in areas that are not adequately policed by local authorities, regardless if they are unable or just unwilling to respond to law enforcement issues within their municipality. In essence, yes, the Sheriff is obligated to provide law enforcement in unincorporated areas. Case law has shown (Ypsi Township vs. Washtenaw County) that 'law enforcement' does not necessarily mean road patrol. This is where people often get confused.
SalineBob
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
A few days ago I received in the mail an 8 page full color printed brochure "Washtenaw County Sheriff Community Report". Inside is another 4 page letter "A Message from Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton". This was not an inexpensive print job! I know--I'm in the business. It could and should have been done on lighter paper and page 4 of the letter is blank. I wonder where they got the funds to pay for this project while at the same time they are talking about how much the department is in dire straits.
Awakened
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 11:58 a.m.
Governments never cut costs for the bosses budget. It is not as scary as cutting services to the people.
stunhsif
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 12:13 a.m.
I made good use of it to line my cat litter pan !
TheInfamousOne
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 3:42 p.m.
Ahh... Just do what the city always does, hand out more parking tickets and increase the fines. Problem solved
catfishrisin
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
Welcome to the world of the tea party, where our society slowly dissolves into the 3rd world
Sandhill6
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
I find the interplay between DonBee and Ghost to be most interesting. In my view DonBee has it basically right but may have some the details wrong or exaggerated. I am a life long Washtenaw resident. My recollection is that township patrols were covered by the sheriff and included in the taxes imposed by the county. That is, the sheriff covered everything outside cities and villages. No additional township tax paid for police services. Now we find the county board declaring, some years ago, that the county is not obliged to provide such services. So the sheriff is ordered to stop providing the services. Townships are then left with 3 options: 1) pay the sheriff, 2) form their own PD, or 3) do without. Net result: a tax increase for everyone living in a Township unless they take option 3. The County Board has money to spend on other good causes and services.
dotdash
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.
Isn't the problem that some towns and townships in the county have their own PDs and some don't (or underfund)? Towns that don't adequately fund their own PDs or do not have their own PDs draw more heavily on the communal county services than other towns, shifting the tax burden for those services onto the county as a whole. So it makes sense for the county to charge back the services each town uses, doesn't it?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
"In my view DonBee has it basically right but may have some the details wrong or exaggerated." Tell me, please, how that works? How is it possible to be "basically right" but factually wrong? Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 12:34 p.m.
"A better way - look at consolidation of services, share employees where it works. Begin to look at 1 county wide fire department (sorry UofM and Ann Arbor this includes you). One county wide police force and One county wide parks and recreation service." Seeing how the county provides no fire service whatsoever, this would not save one thin dime from the county budget. "Build a gold plated Jail and shift the cost of Sheriff Patrols to the towns and townships - net result, almost every citizen pays more taxes - because public safety will win votes. : Can I see the gold plate in the jail? Where exactly is it? When townships pay for road patrol they are essentially paying the county to provide a level of service that residents of Pittsfield Township have chosen to fund through the creation of their own PD. This is a choice the townships make (or not) and this has been the case for a long as I can remember. "Of course when you know if you are a Liberal Democrat in most of the county, you also know your job is as safe as Coleman A. Young was in Detroit." And, of course, when you're a TeaPublican in any county, you can bloviate without any facts whatsoever. Good Night and Good Luck
DonBee
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
My Apologies to ERMG and the readers here. I am ashamed of myself for the opening line in my post. I will try to do better in the future. I realize now that ERMG may not have been in town for the Jail Millage and all that went on around it. To he and other that may not have been in the area at the time, this too was a hotly contested issue, that divided the county. Again my apologies
Tony Dearing
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 8:22 p.m.
A note to ERMG and DonBee. This back and forth has content to it, and that's why we've allowed it, but we're not going to allow further personal shots at each other. Our guidelines encourage people to disagree without being disagreeable. Please keep that in mind.
DonBee
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
Facts? Ghost, when is the last time you posted any facts? Could it be when you got the social security tax rates wrong? You and I both know where the jail is and that the millage was voted down, or have you forgotten that fact. The jail as proposed was considered to be larger than required and had amenities that were not required. Both issues were hotly discussed during the run up to the millage, or have you forgotten? No, the county does not, but if you look further into the sentence and don't concentrate on the first item, you see police (e.g. the Sheriff) and most units of government in the county including the county have parks departments. Prior to the jail millage, the county provided all the road patrols and if the township wanted extra coverage they could buy it, but a basic level was provided. This stopped when the County Commission decided to repurpose the money from road patrols to pay for the bonds for the jail. I guess you have forgotten that part of things.
Sandhill6
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 3:05 p.m.
Point taken. What I was thinking of was his suggestion that money overall can be saved by consolidating services. I know that consolidation does not alway work. But, in this case I feel it is worth looking at.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
I don't often agree on all counts with you ERMG, but this is one of those occasions where I do.
DonBee
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
The Washtenaw County Commission plan to raise taxes: 1) Build a gold plated Jail and shift the cost of Sheriff Patrols to the towns and townships - net result, almost every citizen pays more taxes - because public safety will win votes. 2) Add employees that are not public safety related to the county government, crowding out public safety. Net result, townships and towns end up covering more of the cost of public safety, again raising taxes. 3) Find other worthy causes to spend money on, reducing the availability of general fund money for public safety, allowing the county to ask for a public safety millage. Result, the county commission has more money to spend. 4) Repeat items (2) and (3) on about a 5 year cycle until there is no more money in the county. A better way - look at consolidation of services, share employees where it works. Begin to look at 1 county wide fire department (sorry UofM and Ann Arbor this includes you). One county wide police force and One county wide parks and recreation service. Use Huron Valley Ambulance as a model to move forward with. It works, the county right now does not. For there to be more employees in the county and fewer public safety folks, is a SHAME. More bloated overhead, the creep of bureaucracy. Of course when you know if you are a Liberal Democrat in most of the county, you also know your job is as safe as Coleman A. Young was in Detroit.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 11:15 a.m.
For the millionth time people. Be preared to defend yourselves even without cuts and extended response times you need to surive long enough for help to arrive.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Apr 12, 2011 : 6:56 a.m.
Right on. Recent news about the serial killer in New York illustrates this point: the victims all live in a state which restricts the carrying of hand guns - to the point where virtually everyone is unarmed and "perfect prey" for this deviant killer. (and perfect prey for every other violent predator) The police there: are reduced to the role of searching for bodies, finding more with every passing month. Right now, the police are waiting: for the perp to "make a mistake." He may or may not make that mistake: we'll know after he kills one or more additional people. What a crime fighting technique that is!
Ricebrnr
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
And the difference between the narrow context of this story and everywhere/when else one might be is....? The response time is still measured in minutes, not nano seconds. You still need to survive until someone can assist. Even being in a Police station as Detroit found out recently the response time came AFTER several officers were shot and those at the scene had to hold off the attacker until other officers were able to react. I live in the real world where attackers generally do not cease their attack until they are met with greater force. You're welcome to use your ideals on them instead...
bedrog
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
well ricey...hell has officially frozen over and i agree with you in the narrow context of this story...i.e when the larger society can't fulfill it's end of the 'social contract' all citizens make with their government, then "watch out for yourself-ism' becomes more legitimate in areas of law and order.
Basic Bob
Mon, Apr 11, 2011 : 10:42 a.m.
"The county board has made no decisions" Yes, this says it all. By the way, last year's highest spending commissioner is almost out of money only three months into the year. Too many conferences, so little time.