Local law enforcement agencies have avoided the pinch of record high gas prices by planning for the increase.

The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department budgeted $130,000 for gasoline this year, up $10,000 from 2006, said Sheriff Steve Helgeson. About $49,000 of that was spent at the end of May, he said.
“We anticipated gas would not be cheaper,” Helgeson said.

The department is equipped with 34 squad cars, about half of them Ford Crown Victorias, plus other cars, sport-utility vehicles and jail-transport vans, he said.

The four squads running around the clock are filled at the end of every shift at area gas stations as a courtesy to the next drivers, Helgeson said.

The increased prices have not decreased patrols, he said.

“We feel it’s important that (deputies) are visible in the county, so we’re not asking them to reduce miles on patrol, and that’s not something we anticipate,” Helgeson said.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Department gasoline budget has doubled in the past two years to $70,000 for 2007, said Sheriff Jerry Moran. About $23,000 had been used as of June 1.

Moran said the department was forced to borrow money intended for additional vehicles to help pay for gasoline.

The department is staffed with one Pontiac Grand Prix, three SUVs and nine Crown Victorias. On average, $50 to $60 of gasoline is pumped into the squads daily.

“Our county is 40 miles from one end to the other,” Moran said, but stressed that service won’t be sacrificed based on gasoline prices.

“Our job is to be out there patrolling and providing services to the residents,” he said. “I’m not one to tell the officers to not be out there.”

The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department increased its gasoline budget from 2006 by $10,000 to $98,729 for 2007 based on an estimated $2.57 per gallon of gas, said Sheriff Richard Anderson. Figures on how much the department had used were not available, but Anderson estimated “we’re within the proximity of where we should be.”

The department uses 23 squad cars, mostly Crown Victorias and other vehicles, including SUVs. Anderson estimates about 100 to 150 miles are put on the squads per shift. The cars are filled about every other day at area gas stations.

“(Gas prices) have affected us, but we’re stable,” Anderson said. “But if prices stay the way they are, we’ll probably be over budget and have to give up something.”

Like La Crosse and Crawford counties, services in Trempealeau County won’t decline if gas continues to rise.

“We want to operate as efficiently as we can and be responsible to the taxpayers. We’re trying to do business as we always have,” Anderson said. “And we’ll continue providing as we always do.”

Anne Jungen can be reached at (608) 791-8224 or ajungen@lacrossetribune.com.

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