Ohio police cut back patrols over gas prices: 'We're going to be over budget'
States grapple with budgets as the national average price for gasoline tops $5 per gallon
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An Ohio police chief told "Fox & Friends" Wednesday his department has been forced to cut back patrols due to surging gas prices and warned the move is impacting safety in the community.
The South Zanesville Police Department’s decision came as the national average retail price for gasoline hit $5, nearly $2 per gallon more than the average in June of 2021.
Chief Mark Ross said his department is instead conducting "stationary patrols" to save on gas when possible.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stationary patrol, Ross explained, is when an officer parks their patrol car in a visible area like a parking lot or residential area near a road with high traffic.
SUMMER OF BIDENFLATION MEANS HARDSHIP, HIGH PRICES FOR AMERICANS
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Gas prices over $7.00 a gallon are displayed at a Chevron gas station on May 25, 2022 in Menlo Park, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
"They can just sit there and be observant and be seen," he told host Steve Doocy.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ross maintained that the inability to patrol through the community raises safety concerns even with stationary patrols.
"We’re not as visible as we normally want to be," he said. "We’d like to move around through our village and let people see us."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ross said he expects his department will have to continue cutting back on patrols until gas prices come down despite increasing the budget.
"We’re going to be over our budget if it continues," he warned.
While Ross praised his community for being "very pro-police," he explained that voters recently turned down an increase in the police budget.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Economically, we’re getting strapped here," he said. "And when you go [to] them and ask for more money off their property taxes, they’re going to turn it down."
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He said the community is paying more for groceries in addition to the high gas prices, making it difficult to allot more money for the police.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I understand security is important for the people, but they’re also looking at their budgets and how it’s straining them."