The Jemison Police Department handled 618 service calls during its first quarter of activity in 2009.

That statistic, above all others, reinforced what Police Chief Shane Fulmer already knew — that the department will have to expand to meet the needs of a growing population.

“Our people stay really busy,” Fulmer said. “There are certain hours every day that we only have one officer on duty.”

Fulmer attributes the increase in calls to both the growing population and the economy. He reported a significant increase in domestic related calls but said violent crimes were, fortunately, not on the rise.

The city council on Monday night passed a resolution seeking funding through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program. This grant would fund the hiring of three full-time officer positions within the Jemison Police Department.

The grant would fully fund the salaries and benefits of the new officers for three years, after which the city would incur the cost.

“Our goal through the COPS grant would be to have a minimum of two officers on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Fulmer said.

Statistics reported in the department’s first quarter included the following:

Incident/offense reports taken: sex crimes (4), assault (8), harassment (18), burglary (4), theft of property (19), criminal mischief (12), drug related (14), miscellaneous (38), total (117).

Arrests made (total of charges): sex crimes (5), assault (8), drug related (16), warrants served (27), DUI (6), miscellaneous (53), total (115).

Citations written: no license (25), speeding (22), DWR/DWS (14), other violations (84), total (145).

Warnings issued: miscellaneous violations: 23.

Ordinance citations: miscellaneous violations: 10.

Criminal papers served: 30.

Traffic accidents worked: 13.

Calls for service: 618.

Traffic stops made: 504.

Direct school traffic: 43.