- April 18, 2024
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Palm Coast funded the addition of five deputies at the Flagler County Sheriff's Office last year, bringing the total number of deputies assigned to Palm Coast to 64, plus several staff members that are not sworn law enforcement officers.
This year, Sheriff Rick Staly its seeking funding for six more deputies, FCSO Chief Mark Strobridge told Palm Coast City Council members a July 16 council meeting.
For now, the the agency's budget for law enforcement within the city is $3.5 million, Strobridge said.
"The sheriff has been a good steward for your tax dollars," he said. "He delivered a 42% reduction in fatal crashes as a result of your foresight being able to fund those positions in the prior year."
Still, Strobridge said, although crime is down in the community — 22% — calls for service are up.
The proposed six new deputies, Strobridge said, would be assigned to a "power shift" — a squad working during peak call times.
Strobridge contrasted the number of deputies per 1,000 community members in Palm Coast — 1.62 deputies per 1,000 — with the statewide average of 2.28 per 1,000. The international Association of Chiefs of Police, he added, recommends 2.5 law enforcement officers per 1,000.
But the city has already determined its budget for the coming year, so acceding to the sheriff's request would mean cutting back somewhere else.
"We've got to look at the whole picture ... and we have to prioritize, big time," City Councilman Jack Howell said, mentioning the city's efforts to improve its stormwater system. "We ... have to sit down and scratch our heads to figure out the prioritization."
He asked Strobridge how much money it would cost to add three deputies, rather than six. Strobridge, noting that he was speaking off the top of his head, said about $330,0000.
Councilman Eddie Branquinho, himself a former policeman, thought law enforcement should take precedence over matters like stormwater drainage.
"The swales are important, no doubt about it," Branquinho said. "But between having a little water coming into my house and a thief coming into my house, a robber coming into my house, I'd rather have the water."
Branquinho said he planned to meet with City Manager Matt Morton to see what could be done to add deputies without increasing taxes.
Councilman Bob Cuff asked what it would take, based on the city's population, to reach the recommended 2.5 deputies per 1,000.
"Promising us if we give him six now he won't ask for (more), that's a little bit like, 'You give me a puppy this year and I won't ask for anything for my birthday,'" Cuff said. "What's the final buildout, if you will, if we can get up to 2.5 (per 1,000 people) in terms of sworn officers?"
Strobridge said it would probably mean adding about 40 more people, but the Sheriff's goal is to get the community to about two deputies per 1,000.
Cuff noted that adding deputies is essentially "an eternal expense," as future councils are unlikely to want to cut them.
Councilman Nick Klufas asked if there might be any one-time expenses — for instance, for hardware — that the city could undertake to enhance the FCSO's policing abilities without adding staff.
Strobridge said the agency does use technology to enhance its abilities, but still needs the staffing.
