Portsmouth Police Department Data

Portsmouth Police Department

Police Employee Data

According to the FBI website, under city agency; Table 78 “Ohio Full-time Law Enforcement Employees.”  They provide a list of all the cities in the state of Ohio.  Also, included is:  Population, Total Law Enforcement Employees, Total Officers and Total Civilians.  This table is for the year 2009.  If you should so choose to download this data; choose, “Download Excel.”  If you choose to download the one that has the entire table, it will give you the every city in the U.S.  Here is the link to Table 78 for quick reference.  http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/data/table_78_oh.html

I spent several hours looking and comparing these figures against one another.  I even took it a step further and calculated each city’s, Citizens to 1 Officer Ratios and Officers per 1,000 Citizens Ratios.  Here is what I found with a detailed explanation.

There were 18 cities in the state of Ohio with populations between 20,000 and 25,000 citizens.  Portsmouth. Ohio is one of those cities with a population listed at 20,235 citizens.  Also, note that Portsmouth list that they have; 45 total law enforcement employees, 41 total officers and 4 total civilians.  I will include a complete chart listing all of the cities that fall within the 20,000 to 25,000 citizen populations.

Cities with populations between 20,000 and 25,000 citizens

City	Population	Total law enforcement employees	Total officers	Total civilians	Citizens to 1 officer	Officers per 1,000 citizens
Alliance	22,402	54	41	13	546.39	1.83
Ashland	21,916	34	27	7	811.7	1.23
Athens	22,173	33	26	7	852.8	1.17
Avon Lake	24,723	34	29	5	852.51	1.17
Centerville	22,891	55	43	12	532.34	1.87
Chillicothe	22,312	53	47	6	474.72	2.1
Hudson	23,098	35	28	7	824.92	1.21
Lebanon	20,944	36	27	9	775.7	1.28
Maple Heights	23,411	61	43	18	544.44	1.83
Norwood	20,207	62	54	8	374.2	2.67
Oxford	22,995	39	28	11	821.25	1.21
Piqua	20,559	38	32	6	642.46	1.55
Portsmouth	20,235	45	41	4	493.53	2.02
Solon	21,870	76	46	30	475.43	2.1
South Euclid	20,970	53	40	13	524.25	1.9
Troy	21,965	47	42	5	522.97	1.91
Wadsworth	20,943	39	30	9	698.1	1.43
Willoughby	22,555	59	44	15	512.61	1.95

Note:  How I calculated the last two columns of this chart.

Citizens to 1 Officer:  I took the Population divided it by the Total Officers equaled Citizens to 1 Officer.  Example: Portsmouth:  20,235 divided by 41 = 493.53

Officers per 1,000 Citizens:  I took the number 1,000 divided it by Citizens to 1 Officer number.  Example:  Portsmouth:  1,000 divided by 493.53 = 2.02

As, you can see from the chart above there are only three other cities that have a higher Officers per 1,000 Citizens ratio.  They are: Chillicothe, Norwood and Solon.  So, with those figures in mind; Portsmouth is ranked 4^th highest in Officer per 1,000 Citizens Ratio, out of 18 cities.  Portsmouth, Ohio is in the top 78% of cities with similar populations.

Also, as you can see from the chart above, there are only three other cities that have a lower Citizens to 1 Officer ratio.  They are also, Chillicothe, Norwood and Solon naturally.  So, with those figures in mind again, Portsmouth is ranked 4^th lowest in Citizens to 1 Officer Ratio, out of 18 cities.  This would mean they are at the bottom 12% of cities with similar populations.

What does this mean to Portsmouth citizens?

Portsmouth Police Department wants you to pay for 2.02 police officers for every 1,000 in population.  If you take the Officers per 1,000 Citizens Ratio, and add them all up and then divide them by the 18 cities; the average Officers to 1,000 Citizens Ratio is: 1.69.  Portsmouth Police Department’s ratio is .33 higher.  Which calculates out to; every 3,000 in population they want an extra police officer than the other cities on this chart.

It also means that the Portsmouth Police Department wants every 493.53 citizens to pay for 1 police officer with your tax dollars.  If you take the Citizens to 1 Officer Ratio, and add them all up and then divide them by 18 cities; the average Citizens to 1 Officer Ratio is: 626.68.  Portsmouth Police Department’s ratio is 133.15 lower.  Which means; 133.15 more citizens in the other cities help out in paying for that 1 police officer.

Sixteen of the other cities in the comparison have higher populations than Portsmouth, Ohio.  Only, Norwood has a lesser population than Portsmouth; and it’s only by 28 citizens.

One bright spot in this comparison though is; Portsmouth has the fewest number of civilians working in the Police Department; 4.

What would the Portsmouth Police Department need to do to get down to the 1.69 “Officers to 1,000 Citizens ratio?

It’s really a rather simple solution.  Drop the total officers down to 34!  Instead of hiring 7 more police officers as the chief is proposing; layoff 7 police officers.  34 police officers would make the Officers to 1,000 Citizens ratio; 1.68 and the Citizens to 1 Officer ratio; 595.14. Now, I know that our Charter states in Section 87. Police Force:  That we have to have forty-three other officers besides the chief.  So, we can’t proceed with the laying off of seven police officers.  So, what do we do?

The only thing that can be done for the moment is to vote NO on this proposed “Income Tax Raise!”  And, send a message to the council and to Mayor Malone; no more!  Fix the problems you folks have created without any more new tax dollars for you to misuse and squander away!

Go back, and fix the Amerisco wreck!  Ask the Marting’s Foundation for the money back from that caper!  How about have the city employees pay the 12 – 13% on their pensions that former Mayor Kalb decided to start paying!  Let’s burn the midnight oil once again and come up with a cheaper more affordable benefit package so, the citizens of Portsmouth don’t have to pay enormous premiums for the city employee’s health care packages.  While you’re at it, don’t make the health care package so extravagant.  Have the city employee’s pay more on their premiums.

Stop the abusive city owned vehicle usage.  Then, let’s look at the city council’s health care package too!  Get rid of the Martings and Adelphia buildings as well.

Well, that should keep you folks busy for awhile and I will guarantee it you will find enough to balance your budget and have a nice little figure in the black.

Now, back to what we the citizens can do about this over staffing problem within the Portsmouth Police Department.  As, I already mentioned, we can’t lay them off because of how the Charter is written.  But, we can contact our councilmen and ask them to change the ordinance so that it will better fall in line with other cities comparable in size.  Then, if they will not listen, we have the power according to the Charter as citizens; to “Initiate Ordinances.”  Have it placed on the ballot for the citizens to vote on!

One more thing before I forget folks.  We don’t have to recall a councilman or elected official because they disagree with us.  We have the power to “Initiate Ordinances.”  Now, if they are just so bad, and continue to fight and not do the will of the people, then by all means; recall away!

Coming Soon!

More stats and facts about this “crime wave” panic that our elected officials, PDT and the news would have you believe!

Also, Portsmouth Fire Department! The statistics and numbers, just like I’ve done with PD.

It’s not hates or dislikes guys.  It’s just the facts and numbers showing how screwed up our city budget and departments are over staffed!