Fighting crime and keeping people safe costs money. Unfortunately for the nation's law enforcement professionals, local and state governments are rapidly running out of cash. With too few cops on the streets and an alarming spike in homicides, Kansas City law enforcement leaders say they need a $45 million increase in next year's budget in order to keep the peace.

They say they need the increase in next year’s budget to help pay for 54 new officers, more jailers and 911 call-takers, crime lab upgrades and an array of other items. "These are what we consider necessities," Major David Zimmerman, fiscal division commander told the Kansas City Star in a recent interview.

Needless to say, the timing on the request for a 20-percent funding increase couldn’t be worse. "Public safety is our No. 1 priority, but we have no money," Councilwoman Deb Hermann, finance committee chairwoman told the Star. "It may be tough to just hold steady on what was funded this year. We hope the economy will recover quickly, but no one is saying that."

Mayor Mark Funkhouser, who serves on the police board, was even more blunt. "They have asked for a huge increase," he said. "That’s obviously not going to happen."

As is the case in thousands of jurisdictions across the nation leaders in Kansas City are getting requests from police for more funding while also dealing with similar pleas for more dollars to deal with trash removal, streetlight repairs, abandoned houses, sewer upgrades and other programs. But with violent crime escalating, the city might have no choice but to free up more money for police. August was the deadliest month in city history, with 21 homicides. The city tallied 111 homicides at the point this article was written The city is on pace for 2008 to be the worst year this decade in terms of murders.

"The problem with underfunding the police one year is that you have an even bigger need the next year," Councilman John Sharp told reporters. "I think we need to significantly increase funding for our Police Department."

In a letter to the City Council, Police Chief Jim Corwin spelled out what he believes is required to do the job:

- 54 new officers and their equipment.
- 14 new 911 call takers, six new dispatchers and 10 jailers. The department says the 911 staffers would improve call waiting and response times and reduce high turnover from burned-out workers. The new jailers would free up officers manning the detention facility
- More than 400 new police vehicles. The department says it needs about 300 new cars to replace high-mileage or broken-down cars, plus 100 more to make sure officers do not have to wait for a car when they start their shifts. Cost: $10.5 million.
- A new rescue helicopter, plus maintenance and replacement engines.
- New crime lab staff and equipment. Corwin says upgrades are needed to increase the number of crimes investigated forensically, including property crimes.

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