BAKERSFIELD, CA-- For years the public has been saying the Bakersfield Police Department needs to improve it's response time to calls of criminal activity. Wednesday the Bakersfield City Council approved a $100,000 independent study to see if police can improve response times without adding more staff.
In June, the Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson said , the average for a priority call is 11 minutes.
As part of the local study, the city wants to get the international association of chiefs of police involved.
"You know I am really interested in what they say,” said Police Chief Greg Williamson. “Sometimes it's refreshing to have a fresh set of eyes (to look) at what you are doing, make some determinations and suggestions."
But council member Russell Johnson, who voted no to spend the money on the study, says why spend the money when everyone knows the solution.
"We know what the answer is let's fill those vacant 34 positions and put additional officers on the streets,” Johnson said. “The public wants it. The public deserves to be protected."
Staffing shortages has plagued BPD for years.
Chief Williamson says out of more than 1,176 recent applications for the police academy only twenty applicants were approved.
The study is expected to begin immediately.