The field of police work is always changing, and recent events in the city of Greensburg have facilitated the need for some sweeping alterations to happen at the city’s police department.

At several meetings of the City Council this year, Police Chief Brian Heaton approached to request additional officers. As the boundaries of the city limits expand and Greensburg grows, so does the need for more police protection. Heaton, Capt. Dave Wilson and Assistant Chief Stacy Chasteen were pleased to report during a press conference Thursday the Greensburg Police Department will be hiring new officers as replacements this year, with two more to follow in 2009.

“We’re playing catch up,” Wilson said.

The trio added that a city the size of Greensburg should have about 23 officers patroling the streets. Now, there are only 18. The new officers should fill the gap and enhance public safety and police protection.

“We’ve been stretching that rubber band out as far as we can,” Heaton noted.

Recently sworn in police officer Wayne Davis was only the first of several new officers that will be making their presence felt in the community once their training is complete. Heaton expects another new officer to be sworn in later this month.

The City Council, Heaton said, had been been very receptive to the needs of the police station. He admitted that the ongoing budget process had been his first, and he was not sure of what to expect. He said the council listened to and understood the situation and agreed to take more steps to get the department new officers.

“You have to be pro-active, not reactive,” Heaton said.

Once a new prospective officer submits an application, he or she will undergo a phsycial agility test, background checks, interviews and the police academy.

“This drags out for months,” Heaton explained.

Recent months at the GPD have not been easy for Heaton or any of the other officers. Manpower has been stretched thin, and police visibility was decreasing.

“Our guys are basically running call to call,” Heaton stated.

And for a police department, he said, that’s not the way it should be. In 2007, the department received just under 14,000 calls for service.

“This year, we’ll break 15,000 calls,” Wilson said.

According to Heaton, 27.3 percent of those calls last year resulted in paperwork. Comparatively, in 1994, the department received 8,930 calls. In past years, the city population would balloon and the city government would respond by providing more officers. But something fell through the cracks, and the process of gaining new officers has stalled out in recent years. Heaton attributed some of the responsiblity for that on the city’s rapid growth, including industry and housing complexes.