Letter - Law enforcement should never take a budget back seat

To the editor:

I’ve lived in Alexandria since 1984, experiencing the growth of our community while enjoying the progress, seeing more and more business expanding.

People live here and continue to move here because Alexandria and Douglas County offers opportunity for employment and what many consider a safe place to live.

Our priorities could use some adjusting on budgets and spending for all public services. Communities that support their local law enforcement by providing funding to hire additional officers for their police or sheriff’s departments ultimately find they have a safer, better protected place to live.

I understand budgets need to be well considered. However, taking the advice from those in charge of protecting the public who direct each department should be priority one. After all, we put those experienced people in charge because they know what they need to do the job.

I’ve talked with officers I know from each department and I hear the same thing: We’ve had population growth and a larger draw of shoppers and tourists and we need more officers to do the job people expect and appreciate. Focusing funding by always supporting our law enforcement should never take a budget back seat!

Paul Kruchten

Alexandria, MN

Tags: opinion, letters