COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus police announced the layoffs Tuesday of the police recruit class scheduled to graduate this week.
According to the Department of Public Safety, 27 recruits were notified of the layoffs as part of ongoing budget cuts.
The recruits were scheduled to graduate Friday.
The mayor's office is faced with making $13 million in cuts before passing a balanced budget, and city officials said they expect to save $1.2 million with the recruiting cuts.
"As we look at every dime we spend in the Public Safety Department, 90 percent is for salaries and benefits and cutting staff is the most difficult cut possible," said Columbus Public Safety Director Mitchell Brown.
Brown said this is the first time in his 36 years that the city has laid off sworn officers or recruits.
The recruits will be the first to be called back when police begin recruiting again, but officials would not say when that could be, adding it depends on the budget.
Mayor Michael Coleman released a comment that read, in part, "It is difficult to lay off any of our employees and even more so to lose these committed police recruits who are so important to the future of the division and the safety of our neighborhoods."
Officials would not say how much money was already spent on the recruit class.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement