Pinellas Sheriff makes controversial cuts
Quote:
Sheriff makes controversial cuts
* Steve Nichols Steve Nichols
ST. PETERSBURG - The budget axe is swinging at everything from the dogs to the helicopters at the Pinellas Sheriff's office. Sheriff Jim Coats is trying to cut his spending by 20 percent, which equates to $47 million.
"Every component of this agency has been touched," Coats points out.
The traffic and DUI units will be completely disbanded, with those duties and deputies absorbed by the patrol division. Sheriff Coats says he will also decommission one of the agency's four helicopters and retire one K-9. In addition, he plans to reduce the number of jailers, bailiffs, school resource officers and detectives.
The sheriff admits there will be compromises in the process. Fraternal Order of Police President Jack Peterson puts it more bluntly.
"Unfortunately, public safety is ultimately going to become a risk," he told FOX 13. "If they're not out there patrolling these streets, you're going to have public safety concerns because there's going to be an increase of drunk drivers not being observed, detained and arrested."
Florida's Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Executive Director has an additional concern. Don Murray says DUI officers are trained to catch borderline impaired drivers and to stand up to high-priced defense attorneys.
"What we're afraid is going to happen is not only will there be fewer arrests, but we'll also see fewer prosecutions," Murray said about the upcoming cuts. Murray says other Florida law enforcement agencies are also downsizing or eliminating DUI units.
Coats doesn't want to make the cuts, but they're unavoidable in Florida's current economic situation.
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