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Thursday, May 24, 2012
Police budget hearing draws hundreds
by Kathleen Haley, published on May 17, 2011 at 9:17 PM
Storyline: City Budget
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A dramatic scene unfolded at Sacramento City Hall on Tuesday evening as more than 160 employees gathered for a press conference to protest proposed layoffs in the Police Department. The staffers held numbers up, signifying that they could be among the numbers of people laid off.
They were part of a crowd of more than 400 people that gathered at City Hall around 6 p.m. for a Sacramento City Council hearing on proposed layoffs at the Police Department.
About 80 sworn officers could be laid off if the City Council follows recommendations from Interim City Manager Bill Edgar and Interim Deputy City Manager Betty Masuoka’s proposed budget.
An additional 38 community service police staffers could be laid off. Community service officers’ duties include working with neighbors and controlling crime scenes, said Brent Meyer, president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association.
They also respond to traffic accidents and do crime prevention work, among other tasks, said police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong.
The city currently has 701 sworn cops.
The city is examining severe cuts to city services to resolve a $39 million budget gap for the 2011/2012 fiscal year.
A new group called Protect Sacramento, led by the Sacramento Police Officers Association and Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Association Local 522, held the 5:30 p.m. press conference before the council meeting.
“We’re asking Sacramento residents to let their council members know that these public safety cuts are dangerous, they’re unacceptable and they must not be implemented,” Meyer said.
Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, joined the press conference.
“We know there are tough decisions that need to be made, but they really should not be made on the back of public safety as it relates to the urban core,” Ault said.
The Sacramento Press will post a recap of the budget hearing Wednesday morning.
The City Council will examine the Fire Department’s budget May 24. Read the budget hearings schedule here.
Under the proposed budget, Fire Department “brownouts” would increase from two to six.
Two rolling brownouts are now in place, which mean that certain fire trucks and engines are out of service at various times, according to former Fire Department spokesman Jim Doucette.
Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.
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May 17, 2011 | 9:50 PM
Look forward to the recap of City Council's response to Edgar's proposal.
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Rhonda Erwin
May 17, 2011 | 10:14 PM
This was the most painful city counsel session I ever attended. So painful in fact that I could not sit through the entire session when I felt a heavy burden, weight around me.... What I saw tonight is alarming, concerning and awakening. All the steps many of us have taken to step towards healing appear to be overshadowed in so many ways.... We, those in pain, are walking on a treadmill. And the city counsel that was present tonight are walking in circles, like mice in a maze, following the pied piper- SPOA. Oh what I saw tonight showed me I am wasting my time, energy, love and support with city officials. The Protect Sacramento campaign is nothing more than a Protect A Department campaign. I could tear apart every comment made by Chief Braziel, and many of the speakers. I have to hand it to Meyers he did a great job he won the battle but will he win the war???? Greater is he that is in us; than he that is in the world. What I saw as I sat in the session looking, listening, praying broke my heart. This was not an effort to reduce crime; it was an effort to protect and serve a department. IF it would have been done in truth and not masqueraded as crime prevention with chicken little tactics it would have been less painful. I will call it like I seen it; after I listen to each council member’s comment… And what I saw is not pretty in fact it was far worse than last years Yogi and Boo Boo Jellystone Park SPOA looking for a picnic basket
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Kathleen Haley
May 17, 2011 | 10:30 PM
I just talked to Sacramento police spokesman Norm Leong about the total numbers of layoffs proposed in the police department. The total number of layoffs in the department, including sworn cops and civilian staffers, would be 149. Here's the breakdown: Sworn cops: 80; Community Service Officers: 38; CSI: 14; Supervising Dispatchers: 6; Records Supervisor: 1; Administrative and Clerical: 10.
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Kathleen Haley
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June 3, 2011 | 12:21 PM
I checked in with Norm Leong today. I asked him for the "out-the-door" layoffs – the numbers of actual people (not positions) who would leave the Police Department if the proposal goes forward. He said the number was 147. That figure includes the 80 layoffs of sworn cops.
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