Desert Hot Springs residents react to police force expansion
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - A day after the Desert Hot Springs City Council unanimously approved a plan to expand the city’s police force, residents are reacting to the decision and what they hope it will mean for public safety.
The council approved a resolution Tuesday to increase the Desert Hot Springs Police Department’s authorized staffing level from 33 sworn officers to 45 over the next five years.
Some residents say they welcome the increase, especially as the city continues to grow.
“The more people into the city, the more coverage you need to have. The police needs to be able to cover everything,” one resident said.
Desert Hot Springs Mayor Scott Matas says the additional officers are needed not only to keep residents safe, but to make sure officers aren’t overworked while responding to calls.
“Finally getting to a point where we can implement that and have the officers needed to make sure that not just our citizens are safe but our police force is safe,” Matas said.
Some residents say they want to see the additional police presence help address ongoing concerns in the community, including homelessness and drug activity.
“I like the increase in numbers of police officers because we need them,” another resident said. “Drugs and homelessness is out of control."
For resident Kim Campbell, concerns about property crime also make the additional police presence important.
Campbell says her husband’s trailer was stolen from their backyard after someone cut through a lock and took it, and she says neighbors have also experienced break-ins.
Despite those concerns, residents also say they’re grateful for the work police are already doing in their neighborhoods.
The plan also includes a hiring trigger that could allow the department to add even more officers once it reaches the 45-officer benchmark.
News Channel 3 reached out to the city and police department for additional comment, but officials were unavailable Wednesday.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.
