Leggett Announces Plans To Increase Police Staffing

Montgomery County’s police force may soon receive a in numbers and resources, according to Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett.

, that his proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2013 will include a “significant” increase for police personnel, specifically mentioning the 6th District. Details of the proposed budget will be released Thursday.

Currently , and all sections within the department are feeling the strain. At 1.19 sworn officers to every 1,000 residents, the county is far below the national average of 2.7 officers per every 1,000 residents. 

County staffing numbers receive a little boost from the municipalities of Rockville, Takoma Park, Chevy Chase and Gaithersburg, which bring the county ratio of sworn officers per 1,000 residents to 1.38. 

Montgomery County Police Department had made up 15 percent of the county’s total budget in recent years, even with the millions in cutbacks it has seen since the recession started. The county allotted $232.4 million of the county operating budget to the department for fiscal year 2012.