Tuesday night at the Bowling Green City Commission meeting, Chief of Police Bill Waltrip presented a study outlining the need for 31 more police officers.

Citing an increase in call volume, population and trends, he asked commissioners to provide funding to hire the additional personnel. In addition, the Chief of the Bowling Green Fire Department asked for 18 additional people.

Commissioners were receptive to the study and presentations, saying they will examine the possibility of granting the departments their wishes.

City Commissioner Jim Bullington tells Newscenter 13 that he thinks granting the request is feasible. He says the city can rework budget issues and apply for grants to fund the increase in personnel without raising taxes.

Mayor Sandy Jones takes a more conservative stance, saying there's a limited amount of reworking the city can do, and that grants will not continually fund all of the positions. She says while a tax increase has not been examined, it is one way to fund the additional positions.