Does Elberta Have Enough Police Officers?

The Elberta Police Department has six officers, including the chief.

The department doesn't have a detective and can only put one officer on duty per shift...one officer responsible for patrolling 43-square miles and providing police protection to more than three-thousand people.

A recent increase in high profile crimes-including a break-in at a pharmacy and doctor's office, a home invasion, a convenience store burglary and a stabbing- has many homeowners concerned.

"They simply don't have the manpower or the resources to carry out an investigation," says homeowner Steve Stanley. "The only answer is fund the department and that falls on the mayor and city council. We understand they're limited in resources, but we've got to do this."

Elberta Mayor Marvin Williams admits the lack of police manpower is challenging, but says because of limited finances, hiring more cops is not an option.

"You can't spend money you don't have," says Williams. Everytime you put an extra officer on the street, you have to pay for it. Elberta's police department takes up 42 percent of our annual budget. Would we like more officers? Yes. Can we afford it? No."

Police Chief Julie Joyner says she'd like to have 12 officers on the payroll but tells News 5 the weak economy and less tax revenue in town makes that impossible.