Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, July 26, 2008

Sheriffs ponder cuts with increasing gas prices

By DAN SPRINGER / La Crosse Tribune

Higher gas prices have sheriff’s and police departments throughout Wisconsin struggling to find creative ways to conserve and ease the strain on already tight budgets.

In some parts of the state, agencies have ordered officers to shut off their squad cars during traffic stops, to do more foot patrol and to trim back on patrolling.

Conserving fuel is a top priority for area law enforcement agencies as well, but officials said they refuse to let the high gas price affect the quality of service.

“We’re not going to start making phone calls instead of sending an officer to a call for service,” La Crosse County Chief Deputy Jeff Wolf said. “People want to see a police officer when they call.

That’s a service we provide, and we’re going to keep doing that.”

Wolf said he expects the department’s fuel bill this year will total about $160,000, roughly $30,000 more than was budgeted.

Trempealeau County Sheriff Richard Anderson predicts his gas budget will be $12,000 in the red by the end of the year.

While he is urging deputies to conserve whenever possible, Anderson said he will not place any limits on patrolling.

“We still want to put out adequate patrol for the community and services to them,” Anderson said.

Monroe County Sheriff Dennis Pederson said conservation is a constant battle. Still, he said he is careful not to do anything to reduce service.

“What ultimately occurs down the road has not been decided,” Pederson said. “But we are looking to see if there are things that are operationally appropriate for us to do.”

To cover the higher gas costs, most departments will comb through their budget to find money to balance the books, officials said.

That likely will mean spending less on new or improved equipment, which places more pressure on deputies to conserve fuel if they hope to get new equipment in the days ahead, Anderson said.

Dan Springer can be reached at (608) 796-0432 or at dspringer@lacrossetribune.com.