Citizens ask for larger police force

When Scot Larkin's neighbor's home was broken into he took action.

He installed security cameras outside his home on Fourth Avenue North East. Two weeks ago he installed motion lights.

Then last month his cameras captured three young people breaking into his boat. Sunday those same cameras caught someone trying to steal a neighbor's ATV.

Now, Larkin would like the City of Columbia Falls to do something about what he considers a growing problem.

"There is crime going on — a lot of burglaries and vehicle break-ins," he told the City Council Monday. "We need to have more than one patrolman on the night shift. I know these are tough economic times, but that means higher crime and we need more police on patrol."

Larkin's wife Stephanie agreed.

"I realize this was a petty theft. Some fishing poles," she said. "But we had to pay more on our insurance for the claim.

"I'd like to see the City Council do more to help the police," she added.

There is only one officer on duty in the city from about 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. some nights.

Police Chief Dave Perry said that time is considered to be quieter.

According Perry, there has been about 200 break-ins in the city in the last 18 months. In most of those situations the home or car was left unlocked.

"I try to get people to lock their car and house," Perry said. "We no longer live in a place where we can leave things unlocked."

Councilman Doug Karper said he empathizes with what the Larkins are going through. His son's stereo was stolen while the car was parked in the driveway.

"We can look at the budget, but things are tight," he said. "I don't know what we can do, but we need to take care of the health, safety and welfare of our citizens."

Don Barnhart said the Council intends to keep the city safe.

"There is a lot of interest in increasing the size of the police department," he said. "Maybe that could be done with a public safety bond."

The Council directed city staff to check into the possibility of running a bond election to fund adding officers. Staff is expected to return to the Council at its June 21 meeting with more information.

The Larkins also said they know of break-ins where people didn't report it to police.

Perry said he is aware of that.

"That happens because either nothing was stolen or there's guilt that they didn't lock their vehicle, but they should report break-ins so we can track it better," Perry said.