GREAT FALLS — "We have a serious crime problem here in Great Falls,” Great Falls City Commissioner Rick Tryon said Friday.
At Thursday's commission work session he brought up the topic, which led to a lengthy discussion, during which he suggested creating a task force. "I'm suggesting city folks from legal, from the Great Falls Police Department, maybe the assistant city manager. Bringing on some folks from outside the city that might have some expertise,” Tryon said.
He said combating crime may require what he calls a safety levy. "We then have to be able to take that to the community and go, 'Do you want this?’” Tryon said.
Fellow commissioner Tracy Houck said she feels safe in the city, but is glad to see the issue of crime being discussed: "Everybody has to feel safe and what we're hearing is that we have a lot of crime that takes place, a lot of thefts in people's alleys and back yards."
She's open to the idea of a task force. "I do think that we'll be moving forward on that, taking a look at all the different aspects,” Houck said.
She said that includes having a jail and court system that can support the city's needs, and programs in place to deal with the causes of the crimes.
Tryon hopes a task force can be created and provide some suggestions to the city in three to six months.
KRTV did contact the Great Falls Police Department on Friday to get the department’s thoughts on crime in the city but no one was available for an interview.
Click here to view the most recent end-of-year crime reports on the GFPD website.
