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It has also been a frequent occurance for the investigators <br />to make contact with the registered owners of the vehciles <br />and establish the driver for prosecution purposes, only to <br />find out that the suspect returns to the station and makes <br />payment. The station will then advise us they no longer <br />wish to prosecute and we've wasted valuable time, while <br />being nothing more than over paid bill collectors. <br />Additionally, businesse frequently use the Sheriff's Dept <br />report taking and investigation as a method that they think <br />will result in restitution of their loss. This is not the <br />case, and frequently no restitution is ordered. <br />The statistics that accompany this proposal indicate that: <br />1. Since Sept.,1989, we have responded to 73 no -pays from <br />8 specific businesses. 70 of those 73 were for amount of <br />less than $25.00 (96 %). <br />2. The total loss amount of all 73 together is $792.00. <br />Working on the estimate of .50 hours to respond to and <br />write the report for all of these would cost $730.00. This <br />doesn't include investigation time, court time, or the city <br />attorney's time. I understand that law enforcement in <br />general is not always cost effective, but in times of <br />diminishing manpower resources and increasing calls for <br />service, better decisions regarding allocation of that <br />resourse is essential. <br />CONCLUSION <br />I believe adaption of this policy will result in more <br />accurately reporting of the real "thefts" in these cases <br />and will not tie up valuable squad and investigative <br />manpower. Those cases that do contain the required <br />minimums will also be prosecuted more assertively. <br />Page 26 <br />