Clermont County, Ohio -01/23/09- Sheriff Rodenberg said today that effective February 1st “Several areas of non-essential services that have been provided by the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office will be eliminated or curtailed because of the economic slowdown, our inability to increase staffing or resources, and the rising number of property crimes we have seen over the past year. Clermont County Sheriff’s Office Deputies will no longer respond to non-emergency lockouts of vehicles. The considerable time we have expended providing this service can be better spent in the areas or neighborhoods experiencing an increase in burglaries and other property crimes."
Under the change, Deputies will only respond only to “emergency” lockout situations. Emergency lockouts include a child, incapacitated adult, or animal locked in a vehicle, however, since no policy or procedure can adequately cover all situations, shift supervisors will have the discretion to authorize a response to a lockout if they believe an emergency exists. The Sheriff said this change is intended to eliminate time spent responding to drivers who lock keys in an unoccupied vehicle. “Although for several years this service has been a cost-free convenience to the public, it is not essential for their health or safety, and there is an expense in both time and resources for our operations. Although this change will inconvenience and possibly increase costs for citizens whose keys are locked in their vehicles, it is necessary and prudent at the present time,” the Sheriff said.
Sheriff Rodenberg said the Sheriff’s Office will also be reducing the number of special events his Deputies have attended in the past. “We have participated in several parades and other community events each year in an effort to educate the public about our services and be involved in our community. Though these activities have been a valuable means of reaching out to our citizens, I cannot justify spending time and effort on these activities while we are experiencing budgetary shortfalls and property crimes within our county have taken a sharp increase. All necessary resources must be available to provide basic law enforcement services such as proactive patrol, crime detection, and the investigation of crimes.” Rodenberg said. “We will, however, continue some community-related programs such as the Junior Police Academy which runs several weeks in the summer months and is funded in large part by outside resources, agencies, and private sector donations. I deem this program to be valuable for the education and responsible maturation of the youth in our county.”
Chief Deputy Rick W. Combs said, “I recommended the operational changes to realign Deputies and their availability to more effectively and promptly address emergencies and crime deterrence. In 2008 we responded to nearly 1000 calls for non-emergency lockouts which consumed considerable time. In 2008, burglaries of houses and businesses increased fifty-four percent and break-ins of garages, sheds, and barns increased twenty-four percent. Local police chiefs in our county have reported a spike in property related crimes in their jurisdictions as well.”
“Since there will not be any increase in staffing or resources in the foreseeable future, attention must be diverted from non–essential services. With job and other economic losses, property crimes can be expected to increase. Police presence and timely availability can help to deter this activity.” Combs said. “The Sheriff has asked me to monitor this situation as well as others as they arise and make further adjustments in operational strategies in an effort to control expansion of crime.”