Pataskala Police Dept. Could Disappear
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Police Strapped For Cash
A local police department is strapped for cash.
NBC 4
A local police chief said his department needs help or it could be out of business.
PATASKALA, Ohio—A tense police situation put an already strapped force to the test over the weekend.
A local police chief said his department needs help or it could be out of business.
Patrolling officers create a sense of security in our communities and neighborhoods, right? What if there weren’t any patrolling officers?
It’s the situation one Central Ohio community could find itself in soon.
A home on Oxford Drive in Pataskala almost became the scene of a tragedy last Saturday.
Police responded to the home after they received a call from a woman who said her estranged husband, Phillip Swanagin, had a knife to her throat.
“He clearly went there, with the evidence we were able to find, with the intention of killing her and having us take care of him,” Pataskala Chief of Police Chris Forshey said.
When this all happened, Forshey said the department only had two officers on the streets—the result of an already strained department.
Officers alongside Licking County deputies were able to subdue Swanagin and take him into custody.
Tanya Swanagin, 41, was transported to a local hospital for lacerations to her leg, neck, and hands.
Phillip faces charges, including felonious assault and kidnapping.
The Pataskala Division of Police has a staff of 16 currently, down from 21 officers. Eleven of those 16 are uniformed officers.
The department isn’t at risk of losing more officers; it’s at risk of going under itself.
An existing levy that helps fund the department expires this year, and Forshey said an 8-mill replacement levy would be necessary to restore the department to a staff of 21.
“If there’s no money to run the department, obviously it can’t exist,” Forshey said.
City council is currently taking up the matter, and city officials told NBC 4 a levy of some kind likely will be placed on the November ballot.
The current levy will pay through next year, but Forshey said if the department doesn’t get more money and soon, it and about 17,000 Pataskala citizens will be in trouble.
“The city has a responsibility to provide basic services,” he said. “If we would disappear and no additional funding—with the sheriff’s office, they’re going to get a very, very basic service.”
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Reader Reactions
I meant we should have a State Police like Michigan, W Va, Kentucky, PA and almost every other state. To have just a limited authority highway patrol is almsot 19th century. It would save local jurisdictions so much money in that crimes would be handled by a State Police with a bigger force and more resources. Only reason we don’t is the Sheriff’s have too much political clout and have stopped previous attempts to change.If taxpayers knew how this woudl save big money statewide they would be all for it. Many small towns would no longer need town cops and many sheriff’s could cutback on staff.
The idea of a county force makes much more sense that expanding the Ohio State Police. Yes, there are both an Ohio Highway Patrol, with about 1400 troopers tasked with traffic enforcement, and an Ohio State Police force of less than 100 officers, tasked with police duties on state property.
Metro Licking Police. A Countywide Police agency that would handle police services in all of Licking County and would save money for all current cities and the county. Or here is an idea make our State Highway Patrol the Ohio State Police Department like every other state has and they can handle police calls to small towns a patrol etc. Oh I know why because it makes SENSE !!!!!!!!!!!
I have no problem renewing the police levy…BUT I WILL NOT APPROVE an income tax….if the police want an increase and it is reasonable I have no problem with this, Pataskala is turning into the slums and we need the protection but we sure don’t need an Income Tax!
Now lets see, I live in Pataskala, work in Columbus. I’m not rich, but doing ok so far…..Columbus wants to raise the income tax to 2.5%, Pataskala wants to get an income tax and wants to raise the mils…........How the h*** am I going to afford it? But then again, Obama will give me a stimulus package….......HA!
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