Shootings strain budgets for Moscow authorities

MOSCOW, Idaho – The recent string of deadly shootings has pushed law enforcement agencies so far into their budgets that some officers are volunteering to work for free.

“It’s not policy for them to do that, and we don’t encourage that, but at the same time, if they want to volunteer their time, we accept it,” David Duke, assistant chief for the Moscow Police Department, told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. “That also shows the type of personnel we have here.”

John Delling, 21, is accused of shooting University of Idaho student David Boss, 21, in March before driving to Boise and killing Boise State University student Bradley Morse, 25, whom he had met on the Internet. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

On May 19, Jason Hamilton, 36, went on a shooting rampage, killing three and wounding three others before he killed himself.

“In the budget process, we set aside a certain amount each year for major investigations,” Duke said. “Delling mostly depleted that major investigation fund.”

Two officers had to go to Sparks, Nev., where Delling was apprehended. Officers back in Moscow were also working long hours.

“We were putting in 16-hour days here, instead of our usual 10,” Duke said.

The department offered officers comp time to help reduce overtime, but then Hamilton went on his shooting spree. Duke said he has told the city that the department might go over its overtime limit. He said overtime payments are about 22 percent higher than budgeted for this point in the year.

“Certainly we don’t like to see that, but they’ve got to respond to the situation,” said Gary Riedner, city supervisor. “When you have extraordinary circumstances, you have to be flexible.”

The Latah County Sheriff’s Department also had to spend additional money because of the Hamilton shootings.

The dispatch center, into which Hamilton shot, was damaged, as were several department vehicles. Sheriff Wayne Rausch said the department is working with insurance companies to determine the cost. Other expenses include such things as batteries and film, items that add up to strain the budget.

“By the time it’s all said and done, I’m sure we’ll be over on some of those lines,” Rausch said.