CUDAHY POLICE UNIT COULD COST $230,000

City Considers Adding 3 Officers For Crime Suppression Team

Cudahy - City officials say the creation of a new crime suppression
unit - adding three officers to the force to focus on violent
incidents - could cost up to $230,000, about half of which would come
directly from the 2005 city budget.

The remaining dollars would be sought through grants and
reimbursements under a program that would employ two officers to
address local crime and a third who would work with local, state and
federal officers to better understand the roots of the crime, Police
Chief David Tellock said.

Tellock and Mayor John Hohenfeldt spoke in separate interviews
following Tuesday's unanimous vote by the Common Council to approve
the concept of the program.

Whether the dollars will actually be available come budget time, both
said, is another question entirely. If it survives an already tight
budget, the unit could be running by Jan. 1, officials said.

Although the mayor said there is clearly support among elected
officials for a solution to some of the city's crime problems, he
said: "We have to live with the real world and what we can afford."

The department has 28 sworn officers, including supervisors and the
chief. Its 2004 budget is $3.2 million, according to Tellock. The
money for the crime unit would cover salary and benefits for new
officers, according to Common Council President Sean Smith.

Tellock said the department, in looking for funding for the unit, is
considering deferring some capital purchases. But, he added, aldermen
"would have to look at the whole city budget" in considering the cost
of the unit.

The crime suppression unit would focus on crimes in targeted areas to
include gangs, drug offenses, gun offenses, significant property
crimes and violent offenses. Its objective would be to heighten police
presence in targeted areas with aggressive patrols and investigations
that will aim to prevent crime.

City officials note that the creation of a specialized police unit is
not unique. Other examples include the Milwaukee Police Department's
gang crimes unit, the West Allis Police Department's special
investigative unit and the Oak Creek Police Department's drug unit.