A question about sheriff/police patrol
 

We have lived in Chatham (Marion County) for six years. I have, maybe once, seen a sheriff car on patrol in our neighborhood. It seems to me that since we pay as much tax as everybody else in Marion County, we should enjoy at least a little police presence.

Maybe I'm missing something in the formula. Are Village residents excluded for some reason? Do the other two counties and Lady Lake patrol their sections? I'm curious.

The sheriff has been in here on a couple of occasions when they have been called for a specific offense or investigation.

I live in Sumter County and have never seen a patrol car in our Village. I would love if police would cruise by once in awhile. I do see patrol cars often on Buena Vista and Morse.

It only takes a second for a patrol car to drive buy. If you happen to turn your head or are otherwise not looking, a car could come and go without being seen. I live in the Village of Santiago and have seen sheriff cars occasionally. Given the numerous streets in The Villages, chances of seeing a patrol car would be purely coincidental.

Law enforcement generally focus their attention on high crime areas. There is comparatively little crime in The Villages; consequently we get little attention aside from occasional speed traps.

In these days of budget cuts, budget constraints, etc., all police agencies are strapped for resources. They must dedicate their limited resources to where they will do the most good. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) this is not within The Villages. Compared to the world at large, we are relatively crime free (economic crimes excepted). We also have Community Watch whom I see fairly often patrolling our streets and who can call a designated law enforcement agency (location dependent) when necessary. I have noted, on the few occassions that I am aware of, that when law enforcement is needed and called, they repond promptly.

As far as I am concerned, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. We don't seem to need more marked patrols within our streets so lets not aggitate for more.

Sorry, I disagree. Expecting police protection for my tax dollars is not "........agitating for more."

The Villages is a real place, with real people and real situations. With stop sign violations the norm, speeding a common occurrence, house intrusions and burglaries becoming a problem, souped up "illegal" golf carts, minors driving carts and adults driving carts under the influence, one is hardly an agitator when suggesting that a police presence is welcome.

However, if you are satisfied to have no police presence, I'm happy for you.

It only takes seconds for the garbage truck to go by and I see them twice a week.

I have seen Sheriffs cars in our neighborhood but not often. However on the busier roads such as 27/441, 466 & 466A they appear to have a much stronger presence.

It is true: I see the sheriff's office looking for speeders a great deal more than I see them patrolling the neighborhood for bad guys!

But, when I lived up north in the city, I saw the police looking for speeders a great deal more than I saw them patrolling the neigborhood for bad guys!

Here, in The Villages, I think we need the speed controllers more than we need the neighborhood watchers!

One of the many beauties of The Villages is that we have a very, very low crime rate, and folks feel much safer here than they used to, "up north!"

Am I wrong? I don't think so!

SWR

I don't see them but I hear them, they wake me up. Maybe the cops should remove their mufflers so they can be heard when they are in the area. If you need the Sumter County deputies, just look in the shade beneath the oaks at Lake Miona Municipal Park. Seems to be their hangout.

There is a difference between Marion Co and the rest of TV. Cannot swear to this, but I seem to remember that the areas up north are, in fact, gated communities. Unlike down here where the streets belong to Sumter Co, the streets in Marion Co belong to the District (4?). Don't know how this affects police/sheriff patrol. Of course they would respond to a call, but . . . ? :shrug:

Also, as I commented before in another discussion, TV makes up a relatively minuscule portion of Marion Co. To the county gov't, it is no more important than Del Webb or any similar size housing area. On the other hand, in Sumter Co, TV is the primary source of income and the largest number of voters. To misquote Reggie, TV is the straw that stirs the drink in Sumter. Therefore, we might get a little better service.

Oh, and I've seen patrol cars on our residential streets (not often) and more frequently on the feeder streets like Bailey Trail, St. Charles, and Canal.



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Not sure about all The Villages, But I can tell you I usually ride my bike to work around 4am thru Belvedere and Lynnhaven out behind the Charter High School, Every now and then I see a SCSO car riding around. Not alot, but I have seen them. They Patrol Bison Valley and Wildwood I see going in Parkwood in the Mornings.

Money Out

The Marion County section of The Villages is the same as Lake and Marion County. The streets are public and it is not a gated community.