The Raleigh Police Department has asked the Raleigh City Council for funding to add 12 police officers to its force, and some of those would be assigned to the North Raleigh beat.
"It really is a matter of getting new police officers where the new bodies are going," Phillip Isley, a Raleigh City Council member, said. "I'm very concerned about police coverage in the North Raleigh area."
Sherie Bryan, who owns the Flowerama Shop in North Raleigh, said she would love to see more police presence in the area. A couple of months ago, the jewelry store next door to her shop was robbed at gunpoint.
"As soon as you increase the number of police officers, the response rate has to go down," Bryan said. "It's just the logical conclusion."
Officials said North Raleigh is still one of the safest areas in the city. But because it has grown so fast, the area needs more police to deal with serious criminal activities as well as everyday issues, including traffic citations, noise complaints and domestic disputes.
The Raleigh City Council will consider the proposal when it weighs the budget next week.
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