by Justin Kabbes
American Staff Writer

They protect the streets. They keep Jackson County and Murphysboro safe and secure. They are working 24 hours a day and seven days a week. These men and women called officers of the law are in short supply in Jackson County yet a new federal grant could help take care of that problem with little cost locally.
According to Sgt. Mike O'Leary of the Sheriff's Department the recommended ratio of officers per capita is 2.4 for every 1,000 persons. However, he says the department is operating with less than one officer for every 2,000 people. The Sheriff's Department currently employs 27 officers, but if the federal government approves the COPS grant, or Community Oriented Policing Services, Jackson County could receive four more officers. COPS is a program that police departments apply for to receive new officers at entry-level salaries for a three year duration. The federal grant will cover the majority of the costs, however, there usually are minimal costs locally. Sgt. O'Leary says the department could use the officers because the force is spread thin.
"We are woefully understaffed," he said. "That has been the case for as long as I can remember,"
Sgt. O'Leary has been on the force for 14 years. He says the department does the best it can with the staff it has, but it would definitely help if the force could be beefed up. The department being spread so thin results in overworking the current force. If officers want to go on vacation or get hurt other officers will make up the difference by working long overtime hours. Jackson County could use the extra muscle but money has always been tight. However, if the federal government approves everything the Sheriff's Department asked for in the grant, the county could potentially receive $790,000 to fund the addition of four new officers for the next three years. Yet, not everything is for free. O'Leary says the department will have to fork over roughly $140,000 during this period.
The addition of new officers may actually be the money-saver to foot Jackson County's part of the bill. With officers retiring and newer, entry-level salaries taking their place the department could have more for less. Also, more officers means their co-workers will put in less overtime hours when the force spreads even more thin than it already is. Since overtime hours cost more than regular working hours, this is an obvious cash-saver.
Murphysboro City Police Chief Jeff Bock says his department is understaffed too. His department only employs 15 officers, making the per capita ratio barely over one and a half officers per thousand, falling below the recommendation as well.
Bock blames budget problems for the shortage. He says the situation has always been this way during his 13 years with the department.
When the program was introduced in 1994 it was funded well enough to add officers to the force. However, during this decade it has been weakly funded until the presidential administrations changed.
Murphysboro City Police have requested three officers through the COPS grant. If the department receives everything they asked for in the grant, Bock says the department will receive about $525,000 over the next three years. Although lacking exact numbers, Bock says the city will owe very little money since most of it can be financed through drug seizures. Bock says the amount of money the department holds in drug seizures remains undisclosed.
"We have enough (to fund the program)," he said.
Bock says the extra officers would be a "tremendous help." He says without extra help from outside units like the Sheriff's Department his officers would be working many more overtime hours than they already are.
A few weeks ago there was a crash involving a semi at a major intersection on the east side of town. Not only was Bock, his three officers on duty and the deputy chief forced to be on the scene, but so was the animal control officer to help direct traffic.
"If there was something else occurring at the same time, we would have to pry somebody away (from the scene) if it was an urgent call," he said.
O'Leary and Bock both agree that their departments work hand in hand and rely on each other to get their jobs done. He says what's good for the Sheriff's department is good for the City PD also.
"If we get the officers and they don't, it's going to help them," he said. "If they get the officers and we don't, it's going to help us."
The deadline for COPS grant awards is in September. Sgt. O'Leary says the Department of Justice may make announcements sooner than that.