Crime statistics underscore need to properly fund our police

Last week we reported on a study performed by a consumer research company that listed Hamtramck as having the seventh worst crime rate in the state.
We can blame that dubious claim to largely being a neighbor of Detroit. It’s no secret that criminals look to Hamtramck as a prime area for good pickings because we have a vibrant downtown shopping district and residents who are, relatively speaking, a bit better off.
This is why we need a strong police force, but sadly it isn’t always seen that way.
Police Chief Max Garbarino has said in the past that he has lost over half of his officers during the past year. Officers get experience here and move on to another department that pays more.
This has left the department forever breaking in new officers, but also requiring overtime to make sure there are enough officers per shift to properly patrol the city.
Garbarino has already blown through his overtime budget and there are still five months to go before the city’s fiscal year ends on June 30.
From a management perspective it may look like the department needs to get control of its budget.
That is understandable from a strict look at the numbers. But the city needs to take another, closer look.
We are an island city surrounded by some bad folks who want to take advantage of us.
Hamtramck desperately needs a strong police department that is funded appropriately.
That needs to be our number one priority.