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Community Service officers . St . Anthony has none. This is <br /> telling when compared to our already low police-to-citizen <br /> ratio. <br /> * One half of polled communities have a full or part-time <br /> school liaison officer. St . Anthony has none. <br /> * <br /> Over one half of the polled communities have. a bike patrol . <br /> St . Anthony has none. <br /> * One half of the polled communities have full or part-time <br /> officers attached to a drug task force . St . Anthony has none. <br /> * Almost one half have members associated with a tactical <br /> entry team. St . Anthony has none . <br /> * All communities polled are maintaining or adding to their <br /> department' s authorized strength. <br /> The concentric circle theory of crime dictates a higher crime rate <br /> for first ring suburbs, and reduction of crime as you go out from <br /> the core city. Our lower crime rate is something that defies this <br /> very reliable indicator of crime, and is something of which to be <br /> very proud. It will surely not last forever, and it is imperative <br /> that we keep crime under control . It is poor management theory <br /> indeed, to react to a problem once it is out of control, rather <br /> than to keep control in, the .first place . The failure of 'a police <br /> department to control criminal behavior, is not only measured in <br /> terms of loss of life and property, but also in terms of fear and <br /> suspicion, which greatly detracts from the citizens peace of mind <br /> and comfort . <br /> Good law enforcement reputations are hard to get, and the St . <br /> Anthony Police Department has the type of reputation only years of <br /> solid police work can obtain. Reductions in service at a time when <br /> every other Metro law enforcement agency is staying the same or <br /> increasing, may permanently damage this agency' s ability to control <br /> crime. <br /> This is especially true for first ring suburbs . It is hard to <br /> believe that the citizens. of St . Anthony would want a reduction in <br /> police service . <br /> As I have already shown, St . Anthony is the one glaring standout <br /> when it comes to services provided by most other law enforcement <br /> agencies, and the ratio of police officers to citizens . St . <br /> Anthony Police Department has always done more with less, much less <br /> in some areas . <br /> Our agency has been practicing community oriented policing long <br /> before it became a national trend. The citizens of St . Anthony are <br /> now reaping the benefits (lower crime -rate) of this philosophy . . . <br /> the benefits that other cities wish for, and first ring suburbs <br /> dream about . The ultimate test of police efficiency is the absence <br />