1. Current and past police chiefs consistently recommend AGAINST liquor license transfers from outside the city, based on staffing reductions.

2. Due to financial challenges facing the City, the Royal Oak Police Department staffing is down nearly 25%, or 23 officers, since 2003.

3. The Police Department’s Directed Patrol Unit (DPU) has been disbanded due to budget constraints. This was our undercover unit, that conducted stings on liquor establishments with underage decoys, etc.

4. The Police Departments Alcohol Enforcement Unit has been disbanded due to budget constraints. This unit concentrated on drunk driving offenders.

5. “Mega” bars and saloons have proven to require a higher level of public safety, that sometimes drains city services from our neighborhoods. We need police in all four corners of our city, not just our downtown bars.

6. Royal Oak is already several liquor licenses over the State of Michigan recommended quota of 40 licenses. This is based on 1 license per 1,500 residents.

7. Redevelopment proposals can continue to be considered, by acquiring a current Royal Oak escrowed license or by applying for a bistro license. Bistro establishments limit occupancy to 75 or fewer, close at midnight, do not require a bouncer, and are NOT a drain of police resources.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 am and is filed under Royal Oak Public Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.