Fayetteville Looks to Hire More Police, Firefighters

Does it seem like Fayetteville has had a crime problem of late? You know, three murders, an assault on the Lake Fayetteville Trail, an armed standoff at the Motel 6 on College Avenue and a machete attack at the homeless camp down by the football stadium.

The conventional wisdom is that as the population grows, so does the crime. Well, in Fayetteville that’s definitely the case. Looking at the compiled crime stats as compared to U.S. Census Bureau numbers, here’s the takeaway: From 2010 to 2014, the population grew by 10 percent, whereas the total number of police calls, from 2010 through 2014, grew by 30 percent.

We here at Whispers aren’t statisticians, and we know it’s dirty math. Still, 30 percent growth in crime compared to 10 percent growth in population just doesn’t sound right.

Fayetteville is considering a tax increase for 11 more firefighters and eight more cops. In making his case for the new millage, police chief Greg Tabor told the City Council that response times are worsening, and in some instances, there are no cops available for the most urgent calls, known as Code Zero.

For those who own homes and businesses in Fayetteville, or for those who go there for entertainment, that’s not good news.

The recession is over, and due to an improving economy, Fayetteville’s population and its police calls are climbing. Mayor Lioneld Jordan said he supports the new tax and will lobby for its approval. Tax increases, however, are almost always unpopular, and Jordan will certainly face some type of opposition.

But something has to be done. Let’s see what kind of solution the city fathers devise.