POOR SHOWING AT PARADE PUTS PETITION FOR MORE POLICE AT RISK
Byline: By Anthony Sommer, THE PHOENIX GAZETTE
Efforts by Block Watch at the Phoenix Suns parade to gather enough signatures to place a
tax increase for more police and firefighters on the October ballot failed miserably,
organizers said.
Out of an estimated 300,000 fans, only about 1,500 signed petitions Saturday.
''We were hoping for 15,000,'' said Richard Fox, president of the Phoenix Block Watch Advisory Board.
''We only had six people circulating petitions when 30 to 40 indicated they would help. Maybe it was the heat.''
Fox said Sunday it appears unlikely the group will be able to collect the required 12,000 signatures by Thursday's deadline, although Block Watch volunteers are being asked to try.
The measure Block Watch is hoping to place on the city election ballot would raise the city sales tax by 0.1 percent and could raise enough money to hire 250 more police officers and 70 firefighters.
The effort has received little encouragement from city officials but strong support from the police officers' union, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association.
Not all of those who serve on Block Watch advisory panels were dismayed by the apparent failure of the petition drive.
Alma Williams, a central-city community leader, said Sunday that a review and reorganization of the Police Department is needed more than additional officers.
Phoenix, the nation's ninth-largest city, has 2,036 police officers with 992 on patrol duty, she said.
San Diego, the nation's sixth-largest city, has 1,830 officers, with only 572 of them on patrol, Williams said.