The safety of its citizens should be the highest priority of any city.

Providing this core service along with fire protection and sanitation is the basis for which many cities are incorporated.  That’s obviously why crime was such a hot topic at the most recent candidates forum.

Crime isn’t just another problem in East Ridge.  It’s the most serious issue facing our city, and one that needs to be actively addressed.

Our city has several factors which help to contribute to the rising crime rate.  The first of which is the proximity to Georgia as well as two major highways.  The ability to enter our city and escape outside our primary jurisdiction is an appealing opportunity to most criminals.

The most concerning factor to me is that as Chattanooga begins to figure out how to reduce its violent crime it will push some of those criminals into East Ridge.  This is something that we not only have to be mindful of but prepare for.

As a lot of our property crime is committed for the purpose of buying drugs, we need to acknowledge that we also have a drug problem in East Ridge.  Currently, I’ve been told, we do not have any officers assigned to the DEA.  We not only need to assign an officer but we need to make sure we are taking some of our best officers and forming a strong drug task force to fight this issue head on.

East Ridge needs more police officers in general.  For a city of our size our officer-to-citizen ratio is too low.  We currently have 41 officers servicing approximately 22,000 people.  This means we have 1.8 officers per 1,000 residents, which is far short of the 2.5 officers per 1,000 ratio recommended by the FBI. 

As new development and new business comes into East Ridge they too will consume city services, stretching our manpower even thinner. 

We need to get proactive in order to make sure we are prepared to handle these issues.  Over the next few years we need to hire about 10 – 14 more officers to bring our ration into line with FBI recommendations.

We need to make sure our officers are trained on how to deal with gangs.  We need to take on gang activity in East Ridge before it’s allowed to grow out of control.

While I think it’s great to have a diverse police force that resembles the community it serves, I do not agree with the suggestion made by another candidate at the Candidates’ Forum of lowering the standard of the test officers must pass to serve our community.  East Ridge residents deserve to have the best possible police services.  The officers already serving worked hard to achieve a 75 on our test and lowering that threshold is an unnecessary slap in the face to all of them.

Another thing that’s needed is an active public information officer or PIO.  This is the person who engages the public and acts as a spokesperson for the department.  We need to start actively spreading information and engaging the media.  A short time ago our officers arrested one of Hamilton County’s 12 Most Wanted.  After accomplishing this feat our department did nothing.  They typed up the usual reports but did not issue a press release or notify anyone in the media.

We need to get proactive about promoting our crime-fighting accomplishments.  When we make a huge drug bust or some other bust of significance, it needs to be shared and promoted.

As we are hiring amazing, new officers we need to be talking about it.  As our drug task force is formed it needs to be talked about.  We need to make sure criminals are hearing on a consistent basis that East Ridge is not a safe place to commit crime.  Everyone should know we catch criminals and take them off the streets in East Ridge.

Of course, there is always the question of how will we pay for it?

As additional revenues come in from new development, along with eliminating wasteful spending and wisely budgeting the funds we do have, we will be able to add the additional manpower we need.  

I believe the citizens of East Ridge have a right to safety both in their homes and on their streets.  As a member of the council, I will tackle this head-on with eyes wide open.  I will make sure our police force is prepared, with both the manpower and equipment it needs. 

To be successful we must acknowledge the problem and approach it proactively.  To bury our heads in the sand on this issue will not make it simply go away.  All that will do is not let us see where the kick is coming from.

Thank you for your support, consideration and especially for your vote for city council on November 8th.