Vote "Yes" On Issue 85 To Keep Our Neighborhoods Safe

As Parma’s police chief, I have the honor and privilege of helping lead one of the finest departments in this county and state. And as a resident, I have had the fortune to live, work, and raise a family in a community that I am proud to call home. I’ve seen major progress in our city over the past few years, including key infrastructure investments, the redevelopment at The Shoppes at Parma, and businesses seeking to expand or locate here.

When speaking to groups of residents or businesses, I’m struck by how much they tie those successes and our future to public safety – a key factor in determining the quality of life of a community. Fortunately, Parma, the seventh-largest city in Ohio, is considered one of the safest communities for our size. It’s a testament not only to the 102 officers who protect our neighborhoods but to the hard-working residents who live here. That’s why I’m hopeful voters will approve the renewal of the 2-mil police levy on the November 8 ballot – a measure that generates about $2.7 million at a cost of around $61 annually to owners of a home valued at $100,000.

The renewal levy – Issue 85 – is not a tax increase, but rather continues funding salaries and equipment upon which the department depends. The major benefit of the levy, of course, is to help keep officers on the job so they can keep our streets safe. But we can’t overlook key investments that have a profound impact on community safety.

Among other things, the renewal levy helps fund our four K-9 units and our forensic equipment – resources that have become increasingly important. Our K-9 units, for instance, have contributed to significant drug arrests while increasing officer safety during patrols. Forensic computers, meanwhile, have led to the conviction of child predators involved with pornography as well as put behind bars those charged with major felonies.

Failing to pass the levy jeopardizes those advances and would force cutbacks among our police ranks, eroding the department’s ability to provide the level of service our residents deserve and have come to expect. That’s because while our community is one of the safest its size, our police force has gained that reputation by efficiently operating under ranks considerably thinner than other municipalities. For example, of Ohio’s top 20 largest cities, Parma has the lowest ratio with 12.1 officers per 10,000 residents, according to figures based on a local newspaper story in April. By comparison, those figures indicate Cleveland is at 37.3, Euclid at 18.8, and Lakewood at 18.

Meanwhile, as Parma’s police ranks remain lean, calls for service have increased since voters passed the last police renewal levy in November 2012. Last year, there were 35,751 calls for service. Taking into consideration the increasing service calls, along with our already thin ranks for our size, the failure to pass the renewal levy would put public safety at risk because the city would have no choice but to make painful cuts.

That’s why I urge residents to vote ‘yes’ on Issue 85: Passage of the levy will help keep our neighborhoods safe and preserve the progress our city has made – all without raising taxes. Together, we can keep Parma moving forward through Issue 85. Let’s take that opportunity this November.

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Volume 8, Issue 11, Posted 9:55 AM, 11.03.2016