EDITORIAL: Council forces smaller police force

The Portage City Council turned down a $542,520 federal grant to beef up the police force, citing concerns about how to pay additional costs like vehicles for those three officers and, after three years, the full salary for the officers. It is a surprising and disappointing decision.

The five Democrats on the City Council all voted not to accept the grant despite the urging of new Republican Mayor Jim Snyder.

Snyder said the council took what should have been a simple decision and "made it complicated and political."

In truth, the decision was not simple. 

Police Chief Troy Williams told the council that the department's budget would have a surplus the first two years, minimal costs the third year and a $217,000 additional expense the fourth year. The federal grant would have provided the salaries for the officers for the first three years in exchange for the city picking up the tab in subsequent years -- and not reducing the size of the police force, either.

The council is right to reject the use of Redevelopment Commission funds as a backup funding source for these officers, but surely other funds could be found before the city had to start picking up the tab.

Portage achieved a good reputation for police work under previous chief Mark Becker, and the additional officers would have helped shore up that reputation.

At a time when the Portage City Council could have taken a position in favor of increased public safety, the council voted along party lines to reject the new mayor's proposal.

Shame on the council for rejecting this grant, and shame on Williams for not offering a better plan for coming up with the necessary money when it would have become the city's responsibility to pay the officers.

As a side note, shame on Council President Sue Lynch for complaining about Snyder posting council members' phone numbers on Facebook. Snyder urged residents to contact their councilmen in support of the grant proposal.

If the council members don't want to be contacted by constituents, they don't belong in office.