One thing that can’t be cut

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: May 28, 2008

Big, fast, powerful cars always thirst for gas. But rising gas prices are tough on police and sheriff’s departments because their cars have beefed up electrical systems and suspensions and reinforced passenger compartments designed to hold prisoners.
It’s easy to see why the Dan River Region’s law enforcement departments are struggling with the high cost of fuel these days — just like the people they serve.
But law enforcement is a core government service, one that has a direct bearing on a community’s quality of life. If the price of gas keeps going up, what will that mean for local law enforcement?
The Danville Police Department may do more foot patrols and make other fuel-saving changes. In Caswell County, N.C., the sheriff’s office allows deputies to take their cars home so they’ll be closer to the calls for service.
“There’s a term for it,” Caswell County Sheriff Michael Welch said. “It’s called omnipresent.”
But it’s hard to be omnipresent in the largest Dan River Region community — Pittsylvania County — which has more than twice the land area and population of Caswell County.
“We’re way behind in our budget appropriation,” Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor said. “We have to move money from other categories to keep up with the gasoline line item. Tough times call for tough measures.”
Those tough times may leave some sheriff’s cruisers parked by the side of the road for at least part of their shifts. Taylor has even brought up the issue of funeral escorts, something he doesn’t want to cut out.
While police and
sheriff departments can make some changes in how they do their jobs, their work requires that they speed to any part of the community at a moment’s notice. Law enforcement isn’t something that can be easily cut without paying other costs. The Dan River Region’s governments need to keep deputies and officers on the road and find other ways to save gas and money.