DeKalb Commissioner Questions Plan For More Police, Fire Hires

“I want to see something besides more police on the street. I’d like to see some tangible benefit to the public before spending a lot of money on something,” Rader says.

There’s no official figure for the cost of May’s plan. May says the plan’s price tag will be figured out during the upcoming 2014 budget discussions, though he says it will be “costly.” He hopes to fund the plan, which also includes a 3 percent bonus for all sworn personnel, through extra revenue and budget cuts – not a tax increase.

The new hires wouldn’t expand the force. Rather they would fill empty spots from attrition and retirements. But with more cities municipalizing and creating their own departments, Radar questions the need to keep the force at its current size.

May says that’s something the County can figure out later.

“We can’t be beholden to what areas may do in terms of incorporation,” May says. “We have to make sure our county is safe right now.”