Off-duty officers to begin patrols in Old Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – In an effort to cut down on crime in the area, off-duty police officers are set to begin patrolling the streets of Old Louisville.

Louisville Metro Councilman David James tells WLKY-TV (http://bit.ly/1ZrMcvC) the patrols will start Wednesday. He says the police department is short about 200 officers, meaning there aren’t enough officers on the street.

A $5,000 grant aims to change that in Old Louisville. The grant will bring additional off-duty officers to the area.

The off-duty officers will work three shifts per week, three to four hours per night.

Howard Rosenberg, chairman of the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council, says he hopes the extra patrols will make people feel safe and will expand commercial uses of the area. James says he has received complaints of panhandling and vandalism in the area.

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Information from: WLKY-TV, http://wlky.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.