Glendale officers arrested fewer people last year, but police attribute that more to fewer boots being on the ground than less crime being committed.
A significant number of police position vacancies combined with fewer calls for service and decreased crime rates meant fewer people getting arrested in 2011, Glendale Police Chief Ron De Pompa said.
Officers arrested 8,514 people in 2011, down from 9,962 in 2010 and 10,843 in 2009, according to an annual Glendale Police Department report.
“One of our biggest challenges is staffing,” De Pompa said. “Not only did we lose 18 positions over the recession…but then we suffered from a significant number of retirements.”
Twenty sworn officers retired last year, resulting in a decrease in workload data since fewer officers were available.
Calls for services were also down, from 133,177 in 2010 to 129,802 last year.
De Pompa said the drop was due to fewer officers in the field to observe and initiate an action, as well as residents making fewer calls, he said.