Budget Crisis Forces By-Mail Reports

The city of Vallejo (N. Calif.) is facing a $7 million budget deficit and is considering the drastic step of bankruptcy to get out form under its bills. In response, the police department, which makes up 80% of the city’s general fund spending, has cut back hours for dispatchers, resulting in a new policy on March 1st: non-emergency incidents will be handled either by an Internet or mail-out report, or not taken at all. Dispatchers will begin dispatching officers only to emergencies, and giving citizens instructions on filling out the paperwork for other types of incidents. Watch a TV report on the change here.