HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #2 Police DepartmentCity of Chubbuck
Sworn Officer per 1000 Residents
Study and Comparison April 2023
Lt. R. Butterfield
According to a publication by the US Department of Justice, published in November 2022, using the most recent data
available from 2020, the average number of sworn police officers in a municipality per 1000 residents was 2.1 over all
population sizes in the United States.
When broken down into population groups the number varies. According to the 2020 US census, the City of Chubbuck
had a population of 15,570, placing it in the population category of 10,000 -24,999. That population group is reported
by the DOJ to have an average ratio of sworn police officers per 1000 residents of 1.9.
In 2018, there were 21 sworn officer positions in the Chubbuck Police Department and an estimated population of
14,644. This resulted in a ratio of 1.4 sworn officers per 100 residents.
Two new positions were added bringing the total sworn officer count to 23. However, due to vacancies, in 2021 the
Police Department had 21 full time sworn officers. 2021 is the most current data available for comparison.
Using data estimates from the US Census and actual numbers from the FBI National Incident -Based Reporting System
(NIBRS), I have completed the following table for comparison to other regional and similarly sized cities.
City
Population estimates
2021 (US Census)
Sworn Police Officers Officers per 1000
FBI (NIBRS) 2021 residents
Blackfoot
12,332
27 2.2
American Falls
4,568
7 1.6
Garden City
12,288
28 2.3
Jerome
12,555
19 1.6
Mountain Home
16,235
27 1.9
Pocatello
1 57,092
1 96 1 1.7
Chubbuck
15,772
1 21 1 1.3
The Chubbuck Police Department is currently fully staffed with 23 sworn officers. Using the 15,772 population from the
US Census official estimate in 2021 and a growth rate per year of 1.3%, also from the US Census, the current population
of the City of Chubbuck can be estimated at approximately 16,185. Using that estimated data, the current ratio of
sworn officers in the City of Chubbuck per 1000 residents is 23/16,185 X 1000 or 1.4.
In order to be in line with the National average of 1.9, the Chubbuck Police Department would need 31 Sworn Officers.
The average ratio in Idaho across similarly populated cities (10,000-24,999) is 2.0 based on 2021 data. In order to meet
this average, the Chubbuck Police Department would need 32 sworn officers.
Sources:
US Census
FBI Crime Data Explorer (NIBRS)
US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics
Local Police Departments Personnel, 2020 Published Nov 2022, Author Sean E. Goodison, Ph.D.