By Howard Packowitz
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – The Peoria Police Department would hire six unarmed civilian community service officers to help protect the downtown area, costing taxpayers $508,000 a year, according to a proposal before the city council Tuesday night.
In a council memo, police said they have identified the need to have a larger staffing presence in the area to “keep it safe and welcoming” for the thousands who visit there.
Community service personnel would take “numerous” law enforcement-related training courses, but they would not be sworn officers and would not have police powers, the memo said.
Police said the CSOs would respond to and make reports about “minor” situations, provide a security presence, monitor parking decks, help with traffic control, and keep watch on Civic Center and Riverfront events.
City staffers said there’s no money budgeted to hire the officers, and if the council rejects the proposal, the city will continue paying overtime to sworn officers when increased police presence is needed.
The measure adding money to the budget requires a two-thirds council majority, or at least six votes for approval.
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