Santa Ana : Proposed Budget Would Increase Police Force

Santa Ana’s police force could be bolstered by 30 more patrol officers and 20 more staff members to handle administrative chores in 1985-86, additions that city officials say will help the department keep pace with increases in population and calls for service.

The City Council held a public hearing on a $176-million budget Monday night but delayed taking any action until next week. The proposed budget calls for the hiring of 24 officers to bring the total number of department employees to 558. Six of the administrative employees would fill positions occupied by officers, freeing them for patrol duty.

Police officials say calls have gone up about 9% annually since 1982, while the population has risen to 220,000 from 156,000 in 1970. Police Chief Raymond Davis said the ratio of police to citizens has dropped steadily, and the proposal would put it at the 1975 level--2.34 officers per 1,000 residents, a figure that does not reflect the estimated 55,000 illegal Latino immigrants living in Santa Ana.

Davis said the increase, which amounts to 9.47% more than 1984-85, will help reduce response time and free officers from such duties as typing reports. “It’s part of our program to take more officers out of the building and put them on patrol,” he said.

The council earlier rejected a plan that would have doubled fees for permits to correct major building-code violations. Instead of the $300 fee, the council voted 6 to 1 to study alternatives for reducing costs of the program.