Vancouver police chief asks for 42 more officers

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) _ The Vancouver police chief says the city needs 42 more police officer and 19 more civilian staff over the next five years to fill gaps in traffic enforcement, property crime investigations and crime data analysis.

The Columbian reports (http://bit.ly/1TlPX4t ) that Chief James McElvain told the City Council on Monday that the big leap is worth it to reinvest in the community.

He says traffic laws have not been well enforced in the city, leading to an increase in collisions and property crimes have been escalating without follow-up investigations. McElvain says the added staff will help stem those problems.

City Manager Eric Holmes estimates the added employees would cost the city $6.2 million, with $5.5 million recurring annually for salaries.

The city council was generally supportive of the proposal.