SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- One of Sioux Falls mayoral candidates would like the city to adopt a police precinct system.
Jolene Loetscher says Sioux Falls is at the size where communities start to use precincts.
Precincts would be based out of four of the city's community centers plus the law enforcement center. The precincts would roughly correspond with the five City Council districts.
She says the current police station has no room to expand.
"As our city grows, so do the demands we place on our first responders," Loetscher said at a news conference today. "We need a law enforcement strategy that is nimble and localized."
She says Sioux Falls is a diverse city and that "we can't expect the Sioux Falls Police Department to be a one-size-fits-all agency."
She was joined by two current law enforcement officials: Jason Piercy, who is a federal investigator, and Julian Beaudion, who is with the State of South Dakota. Loetscher said Piercy, Beaudion and other law enforcement officials helped her come up with her plan.
The best information comes from citizens, according to Piercy. He said the precinct system would mean visiting with a law enforcement officer in your own neighbor that you may know.
Loetscher said there were no studies she was aware of about the impact of moving from a centralized system to a precinct system. She did say Lincoln, Nebraska moved to a precinct system when it hit 200,000 people, which Sioux Falls is approaching.
Loetscher also didn't have any cost estimates for the changeover.
