Despite the financial problems facing the Iowa City police, the department and the public — including bar owners — should work together to prevent alcohol-related violence.

Starting Sept. 20, Iowa City police will work on a different schedule that will increase the number of officers on patrol without having to pay them overtime — exactly what needs to be done during a time when they cannot afford to dramatically increase the size of the force.

Typically, officers work on a rotation of eight-hour shifts for six days on and two days off. Under the new system, they will work four days on before having two days off and will be required to work two extra hours on their fourth day of work. While there are normally eight officers on patrol, police Sgt. Mike Brotherton said there will now be 10, meaning more thorough coverage citywide. Officers will be more willing to work with fewer consecutive days on the job. The new, no-extra-cost strategy is an ideal strategy to prevent alcohol-induced offenses.

Brotherton said he doesn’t think the violence downtown is much worse than in past years. More citizen reports and increased publicity, he said, have forced officers to work harder to stop it. But pinched budgets and a lack of officers on patrol plagues the department, giving perpetrators the ability to get away with such assaults.

It’s pretty safe to say that most fights downtown come from an accidental shoulder bump or a bad look. And when push turns into shove and the bouncers toss the two guys out, the one thing they will likely agree upon is that they should avoid being arrested. Just the sight of a badge can be enough to break up a bout.

But increased patrol shouldn’t make bar owners think they can just kick troublemakers out their front door to fight on the street.

Brotherton said police relations with bar owners are pretty good, but there are some things that can be improved. Many owners resent calling the police for service, he said, mainly because they feel a high number of calls will put their bar in a bad light.

And the City Council is not helping.

A new ordinance requires police to recommend nonrenewal of liquor licenses based on the ratio of PAULAs per visit. In addition, Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey said that when bars are up for consideration, the number of calls for service also factor into their final decision.

While bars with few problems should, theoretically, never have to worry about such statistics, a stronger relationship between the police and the bar owners as a whole could only help. And building that relationship should be pretty simple.

Bar owners should take it upon themselves to find a police officer who regularly patrols the area near the bar and keep in contact. Updating them on any problems or concerns, identifying frequent causers of problems, and reporting recent action to better inform officers can enhance enforcement, and, ultimately, reduce downtown fights.

With police coverage growing in numbers with a new schedule and a willingness from bar owners to be upfront with police, pernicious consequences from binge and underage drinking can be reduced, making the city — and, more specifically, the Pedestrian Mall — a safer place.