"Staffing Is A Constant Concern Every Single Night"

Plans are now out on how Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and City County Council Democrats want to pay for more police.

The proposals vary, but police just want something done.

"People in neighborhoods that have traditionally felt safe no longer do so," said Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Owensby.  "They are seeing less and less patrol from our officers.  Not because our officers are not working, but because they are stretched so thin, they simply cannot be everywhere they need to be."

Since June, the FOP Lodge 86 has been in discussion about how to get more officers into uniforms and on the street.

Owensby says residents face more danger the longer the city waits.

"We are patroling more with less.  We are doing less with less," he said.  "Here is something you will hear from us until something gives, there is no light at the end of the tunnel."

The FOP is requesting a five year, $50 million plan that will result in hiring about 100 officers a year.

Vice President Rick Snyder says incidents like the killing of officer Rod Bradway point to the need for the city to act now.

"Staffing is a constant concern every night.  Staffing was a concern the night before this happened with officer Bradway, the night it happened to officer Bradway, and the night after and it will continue to be," said Snyder.  "As it relates specifically to officer Bradway, what we have said and we have been very consistent on this, is our focus right now is on him and his family. But I assure you, we have a lot more to discuss on this issue."

Currently, there are just over 1,500 officers in IMPD.

The FOP says IMPD loses about 50 officers a year due to attrition and city leadership needs to find ways to bring men and women such as Faith Hoosier to the force.

"I want to be a police officer," Hoosier told the City County Council, Monday.  "Please work together. Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, forget about what side you are on and work together because you have people - my brother and myself - that want to serve this city.  But, we cannot because there is no hiring."

Democrats propose using $7.5 million from the Rebuild Indy fund and tapping into parking meter revenue to pay for police hiring.

Mayor Ballard wants to phase out the Local Homestead Tax Credit, which he says will allow the city to hire 80 officers.

The City is expected to finalize its 2014 spending plan October 14th.