FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Republican candidate for Mayor Mitch Harper says he has better ideas for fighting crime in Fort Wayne.

In a press conference Thursday, Harper outlined a plan for more officers, including restoring a traffic division, revitalizing the reserve program and giving drug officers more tools, including around the clock staffing.

Harper says he wants to add 40 more officers, including 15 reserve officers, pushing the total officers to 500. He says he would transition or eliminate some administrative positions, including director of public safety.

He says a new emphasis on traffic patrols is an important part of preventing drug and gun violence.  

You can read a statement from Harper by clicking here. 

The plan was announced as Harper is prepared to launch an advertising campaign focusing his crime fighting initiatives.  You can view that video, by clicking here.

His opponent, incumbent Mayor Tom Henry, a Democrat, dismisses the plan. 

He says the number of officers meets the federal standards set by the FBI. He added that all police officers are empowered and commanded to be prepared to make traffic stops. He continued that the nature of the job requires to be on-call, 24-hours a day. He reminds voters, that Harper was against plans to increase officers in 2014 and 2015.