Dear Neighbors:

In light of the recent crime spree in town, I am concerned about Killingworth’s police protection.  I am not suggesting that a greater police presence in town would have prevented any of the recent burglaries.  I am more concerned with the fact that we only have one trooper on duty in our town for 40 hours per week.  During those 40 hours, I believe the response time to any call for help in our town would be less than ten minutes.  For the remaining 128 hours per week, I am concerned that a call for police help would result in a 15-20 minute period of time for a trooper from the Westbrook barracks to get to various parts of our town.

It is my understanding that the current trooper costs the town about $70,000 per year and to get a second trooper to be present in town for an additional 40 hours per week would cost another $70,000.  Assuming there are 2,500 homes in town, (the Assessor’s office thinks there are 2,600 homes in town) this would amount to an average tax increase of $28 per home per year, or budget cuts to offset this additional cost.  For your consideration of this idea, I have enclosed my research from various town websites and discussions with town and police offices in the state. 

Sincerely,
Scott Perry

Killingworth, CT
            Pop.  6,000
            Police:  1 Trooper (40 hrs per week in town)
(128 hours per week any emergency call requires coverage from Westbrook or troopers in other towns)

Kent, CT
            Pop. 3,000
            Police: 1 Trooper

Chester, CT
            Pop. 4,000
            Police: 1 Trooper
                         3 Constables (all part time)

Salisbury, CT
            Pop. 4,000
            Police: 1 Trooper
                         2 Constables (part time and only used for special events)

Washington, CT
            Pop. 4,000
            Police: 1 Trooper
                          3 Town Police (1 full time and 2 part time)
                          1 Constable   

Deep River, CT
            Pop.  5,000
            Police: 1 Trooper
                          3 Constables (I full time 2 part time)

Durham, CT
            Pop.  7,000
            Police:  1 Resident Trooper

Haddam, CT
            Pop. 7,600
            Police: 2 Resident Troopers

Old Lyme, CT
            Pop. 8,000
            Police: 2 Resident Troopers
                         8 Town Police Officers

Woodbridge, CT
            Pop. 9,000
            Police: 26 Town Police Officers (all full time)

East Haddam, CT                            
            Pop. 9,200
            Police: 2 Resident Troopers
                         6 Part-time Constables

New Fairfield, CT
            Pop. 11,000
            Police: 6 Troopers   
                         5 Town Police Officers

Oxford, CT
            Pop. 12,000
            Police: 3 Troopers
                         1 Part time Trooper
                         8 Town Police Officers (all full time)