Police in Smithfield, N.C., have threatened to suspend some 911 responses and investigations of misdemeanor crimes because of gas prices.
Police Chief Michael Scott, who wants the town council to earmark $30,000 in available funds toward gassing up the department’s fleet, said patrols have been cut by as much as half, reports
The News & Observer in Raleigh.
Scott told the newspaper of three recent crimes that could have been prevented with added patrols.
The Smithfield Police Department’s gas budget was decreased by $10,000 from the previous year. The department will run out of gas by February, Scott said.
The town council said it is looking at alternate ways to keep the patrols on the road, including selling off part of the department’s aging car fleet.
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