MADISON—Fast-growing municipalities added the most police officers and had the greatest increases in police spending over the past decade, according to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX), a nonprofit, nonpartisan, policy research and citizen education organization.

A new WISTAX study of 10-year trends in police departments in 186 cities, villages and towns, "Trends in Municipal Law Enforcement," found that police departments serving high-growth municipalities (those in the top 25% for population growth between 1992 and 2002) added an average of 5.04 officers each and more than doubled their expenditures (105.0%). These municipalities grew, on average, 32.5% from 1992 to 2002. The median (half higher, half lower) 2002 population for this group was 7,194.

Slow- or no-growth municipalities (those in the bottom 25%) added 1.02 officers and increased spending 50.6%. These municipalities had an average population loss of 3.5%. This group includes Milwaukee, which saw its estimated population drop 5.3%, to 595,958. The median population in this group was 8,651, WISTAX noted. Municipalities with average population increases (middle 50%) grew 9.9%, added 4.34 officers and increased spending 66.3%. The median population was 7,737.

Overall, from 1992 to 2002, 143 of the 186 departments added a total of 684 officers. Eleven departments reduced their police forces, while 32 had no change in the number of full-time officers.

Forty departments more than doubled their spending, with three of those more than tripling their costs, WISTAX reported. Overall, 137 departments had spending increases between 50% and 150%. The village of Slinger in Washington county had the largest percentage increase (657.2%). However, it also had the fifth-highest 10-year percentage increase in population (49.4%), adding 1,338 residents. The village had one officer in 1992 and nine in 2002; this increase largely explains the significant rise in costs. The village of Jackson, also in Washington county, had the second-largest increase in expenditures (391.1%). Again, the increase was accompanied by a significant rise in population (71.5%, second highest in the group) and a major expansion of the police force (three officers in 1992 to 10 in 2002).

From 1997 to 2001, law enforcement spending in all Wisconsin cities, towns and villages rose from $607.0 million to $726.7 million, or an average of 4.6% annually. These figures include costs paid by municipalities for traffic patrol, criminal investigation, and other crime prevention and support services. They also include costs paid by the municipalities contracting for county law enforcement services.

In 2002, the average number of sworn law enforcement officers in the 186 departments, including the chief, was 2.12 per 1,000 population. In comparing levels of police coverage, local officials typically will examine the number of officers per 1,000 in communities of similar population, geographic location and demographics, WISTAX said.

Of the top 10 departments in terms of staffing relative to population, three are "resort" communities (Wisconsin Dells, 4.52 officers per 1,000 population; Hayward, 3.19; and Lake Geneva, 2.78), and four are in Milwaukee county (West Milwaukee, 4.56; Glendale, 3.66; Bayside, 3.47; and Milwaukee, 3.32). The comparatively high staffing levels for these communities reflect urban influences and/or the demands of policing a large seasonal influx of tourists in resort communities.

Three communities increased their number of officers per 1,000 population by more than one from 1992 to 2002: the village of Slinger (from 0.37 to 2.22); Hayward (from 2.11 to 3.19) and Lake Mills (1.41 to 2.45). As noted, Slinger went from a one- to nine-officer staff. Hayward added three officers (from 4 to 7) and Lake Mills added 6 (from 6 to 12). Slinger had the greatest increase in officers per population (502.5%) in the group, followed by the villages of Jackson (94.3%) and Pewaukee (83.4%), and the cities of Lake Mills (73.6%) and Brillion (67.9%).

The five departments with the highest costs per capita in 2001 are also the top five in officers per 1,000 population, WISTAX noted. The village of West Milwaukee had the highest per capita costs at $500. It also had the highest number of officers per 1,000 population (4.56) in 2002. Bayside was second in costs per capita ($418) and fourth in staffing (3.47), while Wisconsin Dells was third in costs ($411) and second in staffing (4.52). Glendale was fourth in costs ($343) and third in staffing (3.66). Milwaukee was fifth in both costs ($289) and staffing (3.32).