Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Police Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Riley County police report crime declines for February, flag jail costs as county budget issue
Summary
Police Chief Brian Peek told commissioners that several categories of crime were below five-year averages in February, highlighted reduced incidents during "Fake Patty's Day," and said the county absorbs significant jail-related health and transport costs that will be addressed in upcoming budget discussions.
Riley County Police Chief Brian Peek told the county commission on March 20 that several crime categories were down in February compared with five-year averages and that the department will provide commissioners with additional jail-related data for upcoming budget deliberations.
Peek summarized February statistics, saying part 1 crimes were "44% below the five-year average" for the month and that violent and property categories also showed substantial declines. He gave examples: five aggravated assaults or batteries and two rapes in February, no robberies or homicides, and a marked reduction in vehicle burglaries and motor-vehicle thefts compared with earlier months.
On the university-area holiday commonly known as Fake Patty's Day, Peek said enforcement and community behavior combined to reduce incidents compared with previous years. "We implemented a plan in place, and we had significantly less incidents," he said, adding that many problem behaviors were linked to visitors from outside the community.
Peek also told commissioners the fiscal impact of jail operations extends beyond the city-county operational split often cited in public discussion. He said the county pays for capital projects, facility maintenance and inmate health care, and that Medicaid coverage for individuals in custody often ends after an initial window, leaving counties responsible for health care costs thereafter.
"The county covers all CIP projects, all building maintenance facilities, but they also deal with the treatment and the health care of the inmates," Peek said. "When you're dealing with folks who may not have health care, that is a significant amount of cost that the county is paying."
Peek said the department is compiling data commissioners requested on jail stays, classifications and costs and expects to present that information within two to three weeks and at the next law board meeting.
Why it matters: The county commission helps set budgets that fund jail maintenance, inmate medical costs and public safety. Peek recommended clearer public communications about where tax dollars are spent and said the department plans short informational videos and a web tool to help residents estimate the portion of their taxes that support law enforcement.
What happens next: Peek said he will send the compiled jail and cost data to commissioners and will coordinate with county communications staff on public-facing budget explanations.
