LANSING, MI (AP)-- A newspaper says the number of police officers in Michigan is down 16 percent since 2001 as local governments deal with lower tax revenue by trimming departments.
Some communities are refusing to raise property taxes and are turning law enforcement over to the sheriff's office or state police. Benton Harbor in Southwestern Lower Michigan may close its department to save millions.
The Detroit News says Michigan had nearly 19,000 police officers at the end of October, compared with more than 22,000 in 2001 when the economy was stronger. The newspaper says the numbers come from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.
