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A Petition For Policing

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By GEORGE WILKENS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

PLANT CITY - Some downtown merchants have petitioned for an increased police presence downtown, but Police Chief Bill McDaniel said a plan is already in the works.

The Historic Downtown Plant City Merchants and Business Association gathered more than 100 signatures on petitions, accompanied by a letter, urging a patrol officer be assigned downtown - ideally on foot or bicycle - to help deter shoplifting, panhandling and other problems.

Although McDaniel has no plans to assign an officer to downtown, he said he is developing a deployment plan to enhance police presence there. Downtown, he points out, is part of a larger sector patrolled 24 hours daily.

For several years, an officer was assigned downtown, but the grant that paid for that community-oriented policing expired long ago, McDaniel said.

Additionally, at a recent city commission budget workshop, McDaniel agreed that four vacant police officer positions, including the downtown one, will remain vacant to help offset salary increases for patrol officers. The department has been plagued by experienced officers leaving for better-paying law enforcement jobs with neighboring agencies.

Ed Hampson, an association committee member who participated in the door-to-door petition drive and delivered the petitions to McDaniel on Aug. 21, concedes it will not be possible to have a downtown beat officer.

"That's probably not going to happen, and I understand," Hampson said. "The whole idea was to bring it to his attention," and the chief is "working out a program to facilitate more police presence downtown."

In addition to helping control vandalism and other downtown problems, a greater police presence will help deter an increase in aggressive panhandling in the business district, said Hampson, who owns Pieces of Olde, an antique store at 113 W. Reynolds St.

"They're becoming intrusive," he said of panhandlers. "We now see them stopping cars, entering stores" soliciting handouts.

"We had a very positive conversation and he seemed satisfied" with the plan, McDaniel said of Hampson. "I think it's pretty well resolved."

Additionally, McDaniel said he accepted an invitation to an upcoming meeting of the merchants and business association.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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