To Loxahatchee Groves Residents and Council:
We cannot even think about starting our own police force. We must retain the services of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Were we to start our own police department, we would need the same number of officers, five, as we currently have in order to provide 24/7/365 coverage. Besides salary, we would be required to provide benefits, health plus sick leave. We would need an office with at least two staff to cover the phones and paperwork. We would need an office with holding cells. We would need cars/pickup trucks with radar. Also, where would we land and keep our helicopter for search and rescue efforts, as well as tracking robbery/murder suspects?
We must cover price increases, and that will mean higher taxes/fees for each of us. Of course, we could increase the number of “eaches.” That is, increase housing density — perhaps go from one in five to one in a half-acre. If we want to keep our ruralesque atmosphere and lifestyle, as I bloody well do, then we will need to ante up. I can’t afford it any more than y’all, but I want Loxahatchee Groves to remain as is — it is already getting too built up.
So residents, push the council to work with the PBSO and get a solution so we can keep their services. We do not “Barnie Fife.”
Bill Louda, Loxahatchee Groves
Neither the Town nor the Residents asked PBSO to leave. So I do not understand why everyone keeps saying push the Town Council. The Town and Residents previously had a good relationship with PBSO. Our former PBSO liason, Lt. Coombs was actively involved in creating and implementing several programs that helped the community. There has been a change in how PBSO interacts with the Town and residents. Based upon that fact and the vague letter from PBSO it seems that we need to push PBSO to work with the Town.