By M.R. Kropko, The Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The city completed layoffs Monday of 250 police officers, part of Mayor Jane Campbell’s effort to stave off a projected $61 million deficit.
City police voted overwhelmingly last week to reject contract concessions that would have saved 90 jobs. The police cuts are among 700 city workers losing their jobs.
Firefighters and emergency workers already agreed to concessions to save some jobs. Concessions included giving the city more flexibility in weekend scheduling, reducing their clothing allowance and merging the Emergency Medical Service and fire dispatching operations.
John Goersmeyer, a spokesman in Campbell’s press office, said the police layoffs were completed as planned after Sunday shifts, with the last one ending at 7:30 a.m. Monday. The actual reduction is 263 positions including some retirements or resignations.
The Cleveland police force now has about 1,520 members, including about 320 supervisors and the rest mostly patrol officers, said Bob Beck, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association. They must cover four work shifts in six police districts.
Beck said Friday that some special and investigative units are putting officers on basic patrol duty to replace officers who are being laid off.
The homicide and sex crimes units will stay staffed at present levels, he said.
But fugitive, K-9, mounted (horse), port and harbors, aviation and crime scene processing units all are being closed or reduced, and two police helicopters were being placed into storage, he said.
The police union will make its case in court Wednesday to restore the jobs, Beck said.
“We believe the plan the city has to deal with layoffs of this many people is inefficient and ineffective, and it creates a dangerous situation not only for our officers but for the citizens of this city,” he said.
Jim Pressler, executive director of the Flats Oxbow Association, a group of businesses and residents in Cleveland’s downtown entertainment district, said there is concern in the community about the police cuts.
“We’re glad the chief is redeploying some personnel from central offices out into the field,” he said.
He expects to have meetings before the busy summer season in the Flats with police commanders to determine the frequency of patrols.
“We’ve always had a good working relationship with the commanders and the chief,” Pressler said. “Over the years business establishments have hired their own security and we may need to up that a little, but it remains to be seen. It’s been pretty quiet in the Flats the last few years, and we want to keep it that way.”