WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BAKER - Fast-rising gas prices hit small town police departments so hard, some place are having trouble keeping cops on the road.

Baker Police has 35 units and filling them up is starting to break the bank. The department's gas budget is $160,000, and 75 percent of that has already been used up. The new budget doesn't start until July.

Chief Mike Knaps fears trouble if prices keep going up.

"In order for us to meet our budget, we have to cut back. That can mean going as far as laying people off, which is the last thing we want," Knaps said.

The thought of the police department letting officers go leaves residents fearing for their safety.

"Baker is growing. It's getting bigger. The more people you have, the more problems you could have," said Baker resident Eric Cleary.

The reason for the spike is because of a decline in refinery production.