SCHERERVILLE | Despite concern from at least one Schererville councilman about police staffing levels, the town isn't in a position to hire any more officers this year, something town officials are blaming on frozen budgets and levies.

"We're working with 2007 dollars," Town Manager Bob Volkmann said. "It's not like we can go find money."

Schererville has 49 sworn officers. Of those, 37 work in patrol. The remaining 12 work in other areas of the department, such as the detective unit or administration, Interim Deputy Chief Brian VanDenburgh said.

Leaders with Schererville FOP Lodge 170 say that isn't enough.

"In general, everyone thinks that we need more officers," said Cpl. Michael Vode, an FOP trustee.

The afternoon shift -- 1:30 to 10 p.m. -- is the busiest. With officers taking vacation time, sick time or being on light duty, the staffing isn't always ideal, he said.

"It looks good on paper a few times out of the year, but for the majority, we're working close to minimum or at minimum (staffing)," Vode said.

The department doesn't miss calls, but sometimes has relied on neighboring agencies if a call is close to the border and Schererville is tied up, he said.

"I do feel residents are adequately protected," Vode said. "We're able to handle it, but sometimes we're nonstop call to call."

In Schererville, minimum staffing per shift is four patrolman and a supervisor, which is a sergeant or corporal. At least half of the week, the town has six to eight officers per shift, VanDenburgh said.

Interim Police Chief Dan Smith said there is no single formula to calculate how many officers a department should have.

"A lot of it is kind of subjective," he said.

Police officials need to look at several ways of determining ideal staffing, then use the information to make an educated decision as to what is best for the town, Smith said.

In Indiana, the average is 1.8 sworn officers per 1,000 people in a town the size of Schererville. At Schererville's estimated population of 27,000, it should have 48.6, and the town has 49, VanDenburgh said.

"I think we have adequate staffing right now," he said. "We have our town covered fine. We respond to our calls."

If it gets too busy, the sworn officers who don't normally patrol can pitch in, he said.

VanDenburgh said everyone would like to do less work by bringing on more employees, but the town doesn't have an unlimited budget.

"It's no different than any other business," he said. "We work within the confines of a budget. Our point is to use our resources responsibly."

Schererville recently had been staffed with 51 sworn officers but is down to 49.

Councilman Rob Guetzloff said he understands budgets are tight, but public safety shouldn't be compromised, especially as the town continues to grow.

"In my mind, you never decrease your numbers in public safety," he said. "If anything, you always want to increase."