The DeKalb Police Department approached the DeKalb City Council Monday requesting the addition of three police officers to the department.

During the discussion, police commented that both departments, DeKalb and NIU police, are understaffed by 10 officers.

Chief Bill Feithen said there currently are 36 patrol officers, not including sergeants. There should be at least 45 to have an optimum ratio of police officers per thousand residents of the city. Although Feithen said more officers than requested should be added, the department only requested an additional three officers.

The current size of the force is 57 sworn officers, one communications manager, nine full-time communicators, two part-time telecommunicators, three secretaries, one parking enforcement officer and one part-time community service officer.

Feithen said that the city’s police department could not depend on the University Police force to augment the city’s needs.

“If they’re available, campus police make traffic stops on city streets and back up city police.”

Feithen pointed out that DeKalb has fewer police officers per capita than comparable college towns, and unlike other college towns, DeKalb is near Chicago with consequential problems. He emphasized an increasing crime trend during weekends because of non-students visiting the campus.

Feithen recounted that Part One Crimes are Major Index Crimes that get reported to the FBI, and that the crime rate had increased by 6.8 percent per year from 1991 to 2001, in comparison with a housing increase of 23 percent per year over the same period in the city.

“Without a doubt, we need more police officers here,” Third Ward Ald. Kris Povlsen said. However, he questioned whether the city could afford to hire more police officers.

Administrative Services Director Linda Wiggins supported Povlsen’s fears about funding.

“I personally do not believe that natural increases in revenue will fully fund the increase in the number of policemen and the additional firemen we’ve been talking about,” Wiggins said.

When speaking of “natural increases,” Wiggins refers to inflation, since much of DeKalb’s revenue is generated by sales taxes. While the cost of items increases at the cash register due to inflation, the amount of tax revenue increases proportionally.

Unless the city develops a business plan that will increase revenue to pay for the cost of adding three additional officers, Povlsen said he could not support the expenditure.

“When we have the money, I fully support these expenditures,” Povlsen said.

First ward ald. Andy Small pointed out that the NIU police are hiring new police officers because of their shortage of officers. Small said he had been told that the NIU police force optimally would prefer to have 40 officers, but currently has 29.

“I agree with Kris that DeKalb needs a new business plan, but I support hiring new officers now,” Small said.

Fifth ward ald. Pat Conboy agreed with Small about adding more officers.

“I believe one of our primary responsibilities is to provide for the safety of our citizenry, and that means assuring the police and fire departments are adequately manned.”

When asked how long it would take to hire new policemen, Feithen said two of the three new officers wouldn’t be hired until July.