PORT RICHEY - A much-anticipated study of the city's Police Department released this week recommends eliminating all five dispatchers, its lone detective position, and one patrol position.
The Matrix Consulting Group report said additional staffing changes would negatively affect the safety of officers, the public or service levels in the community - a finding that could disappoint critics who favor a smaller department or none at all.
The analysis did not address the possibility of contracting all services from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, though noted that "significant" savings could result from doing so.
"I don't see anything in the report that was really substantial against the department," said City Council member Bill Bennett, who supports keeping the city's police force.
Other council members either could not be reached or said they had not had enough time to study the 44-page report, which cost the city $21,500.
The staffing recommendations would result in a savings of $156,000, roughly 13 percent of the $1.2-million budget to support the department and its 21 employees, including 14 sworn officers.
Previous estimates show the city could save about $500,000 annually by folding the department in favor of the Sheriff's Office.
Police Chief Bill Downs said he could live with the loss of a patrol officer (the report calls for two police officers to be cut and one corporal added) since a position has been vacant for several weeks after an employee took a job with the Sheriff's Office.
But Downs objected to cutting dispatch, calling the service vital to speedy response. "Communication is one of the most important aspects in any business," he said. "To take away that ability is ridiculous."
Matrix, however, said the level of service would not be hurt. It said the workload is insufficient at this time to support a dedicated dispatch center.
Contracting dispatch services from the Sheriff's Office or the New Port Richey Police Department would save $91,000 annually, the report said. The city would pay about $29,000 for contracting.
The city also could not afford to lose its detective position, Downs argued. There are enough cases for that person to investigate, he said, adding the position is "one we need to properly serve the public."
Matrix, which characterized the case load as "very low," said the investigative responsibilities could be assigned to the lieutenant or handled by patrol officers, and a part-time clerk could be hired to record evidence.
Cutting the detective position would save about $52,000 and adding a clerk would cost $25,000 for a net savings of $27,000.
The report also urged the city to boost accountability of the Police Department by setting performance goals and improving "analysis and reporting of performance data."
The City Council is expected to discuss the Matrix analysis at its June 24 meeting.
- Alex Leary covers the city of Port Richey. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is leary@sptimes.com
