In response to budget cutbacks in DeKalb earlier this year that resulted in furlough days, no pay on holidays and no merit increases for DeKalb Police receiving no pay on holidays and no merit increases, the DeKalb Officers blog let it be known that the force would be writing fewer tickets this year in protest.

According to this morning’s AJC, officers followed through on the threat.  From May to November, DeKalb Police wrote 33% fewer tickets, costing the County “more than $5 million in revenue”.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis’ budget for next year eliminates furlough days for police, but is asking for a second straight year for a property tax increase to cover costs.  The County Commission didn’t like that idea last year.  We’ll have to see how things play out this year.

After DeKalb’s budget for the coming year passed with no furlough days, no pay on holidays (police still have to work on holidays), and no merit pay increases, some DeKalb police officers on the DeKalb Officers blog threatened to stop giving out traffic tickets in protest.

That led to this CBS Atlanta report…

And that led the DeKalb Officers blog to respond with this statement, which reads in part…

We all took an oath to protect and serve the citizens of DeKalb County, and we intend to do just that. If you have a true emergency or are in need of protection from being a victim, especially a victim of violence, we are coming.

…But on the other hand, when it comes to traffic enforcement, we have discretion and lots of it. During these times when the commissioners are forcing us to work on holidays for no pay, we may just look the other way when you ease through that traffic sign or fail to use a turn signal. We envision traffic citations decreasing and warning tickets increasing. But please, not for one second believe we will allow anyone to place someone ease’s life in danger.

The commission has suggested traffic fines be increased by 3%. We don’t agree. That is just another back door tax on the motorist within DeKalb County. We are not tax collectors. We are law enforcement officers.