The Hollister Police Department has announced that the first restoration in law enforcement services as a result of Measure T funds has been implemented and officers now can respond to more instances of burglaries.
"When the reduction in the force came," said Chief Jeff Miller of the Hollister Police Department, "one of the changes to procedure was that we only responded to an auto burglary if it was in progress, or if the victim had suspect information."
Victims of auto burglaries that did not meet those criteria were asked to self-report the crime, but those days are past, according to a press release from the police department.
"Effective September 29, 2008, patrol officers have resumed responding to all reports of automobile burglary whether or not there is a suspect or the crime is in progress," reads the release. "Officers will conduct criminal investigations and prepare crime reports as appropriate."
The reason burglaries of this type went to the self-reporting list was their "low solvability rate," said Miller.
"With the reductions, we had to prioritize and respond to crimes we had the most chance of solving," he said. "As time goes by, we will be returning more services."
Miller added that the next change he hopes to see will be more hours of service at the front desk.
"Currently, the desk is open from 9 to 4, but once we hire a police service officer, we'll return to service from 8 to 5," said Miller.
He said the department is currently interviewing qualified candidates and that they'd "love" to have more. Interested applicants can call the police department at 636-4330 or stop by the station at 395 Apollo Court.
Jeff Gatlin Jeff Gatlin is a staff writer at The Hollister Free Lance. You can call him at (831) 637-5566 or send him an email.
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