Mayor sets new goal for Apopka Police Department

Goal is to hire more officers and improve the ratio of officers per 1,000 residents from 2.2 to 3.0

According to a news release yesterday from Congressman John Mica's office the City of Apopka received a $625,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to hire additional police officers.

The City of Apopka released their own news later in the day. According to the City's news release:

"The three-year, $625,000 grant will allow the Apopka Police Department to fund five additional police positions. The much-needed assistance will help the city to ease heavy demands on the police department in keeping up with a growing community of more than 46,000 residents and businesses spread across 33 square miles of northwest Orange County. The grant requires a match from Apopka for $339,800.

“The City of Apopka has a well-documented need for more police officers. Our immediate goal is to get Apopka’s police department to a ratio of 2.5 officers per 1,000 residents, which is the average among police departments across the state. We now stand at a ratio of about 2.2 officers per thousand,” said Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer. “Over the long term, our goal is to achieve three officers per 1,000 residents, which is the average among many of the police departments in the Central Florida area. These additional officers will go a long way in allowing the City of Apopka to reach this goal and ensuring the citizens of Apopka continue to have a safe community in which to live.”

During the City's recent budget workshops Apopka's Chief of Police, Mike McKinley, presented information that showed Apopka's current ratio was 2.08 officers per 1,000 residents. McKinley had proposed adding adding five new officers to bring Apopka’s ratio up to 2.18. This proposal had been cut during the initial review of budget requests by the City's Chief Administrative Officer, Glen Irby.

According to McKinley's presentation, Apopka would need to add 20 officers in order to bring it up to the 2.50 statewide average. The annual cost for each new officer is approximately $72,000. The cost to equip each new officer is approximately $49,000.

Use this link to learn more about that budget workshop.

Speaking of workshops, the City Council is having another workshop from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM today to review the Fire Department, EMS & Police Department Impact Fee Study Draft Report from Public Resources Management Group.