Police respond to public concern over crime increase

An increase in crime across the city has become a major concern for many locals.

With budget cuts affecting the Yuma Police Department, many people worry their safety is at risk after positions are cut. Proposition 407 is still the center of concern for the community because the law would invest in funding law enforcement, a service heavily needed in Yuma. Although the decrease in staffing and funds will drastically affect Y-P-D, Sergeant Lori Franklin said patrol officers will remain fully staffed. “Our patrol officers are going to be fully staffed,” Franklin said. “The 9-1-1 calls, the domestics, the assaults, the homicides, armed robberies, our patrol staff will be there to take care of those calls.” Although some areas of Yuma have witnessed frequent acts of crime in recent days, one Yuma resident said the atmosphere of her neighborhood feels safer when police patrol the neighborhood. However, because the city will still move forward with certain cuts, Franklin said people should immediately contact police as soon as they see something suspicious. “We don’t have enough police officers to put one in every corner in town,” Franklin said. “So if you see something suspicious call us. Call us and let us get there before [something] happens.”