Chief: Potential Cuts Not A Scare Tactic; It's Math

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus' police chief unveiled the division's 2010 budget with potential safety cuts Tuesday.

NBC 4’s Patrick Preston reported with the FAST FACTS

Police Chief Walter Distelzweig announced the possible cuts at a Tuesday morning news conference.

Distelzweig said the division will cut or layoff 297 sworn officers if voters weren't to approve the city’s half-percent income-tax increase in August.

The income-tax increase will be on the special Tuesday, Aug. 4, ballot.

CPD would need to reduce the number of sworn officers from 1,889 to 1,568 by Jan. 1, 2010.

The division said it anticipates 27 additional retirements in 2009.

In 2010, the division said it anticipates 45 more retirements, leaving a net of 1,523 sworn members by Dec. 31, 2010.

No civilian workers would be impacted -- only officers.

Under the proposed budget-cutting scenario, the 1,568 officers would give Columbus the fewest number of sworn officers since 1993.

Layoffs would affect mostly patrol officers and would be based on seniority. Most of the layoffs would happen in the patrol division, using a “last in, first out” approach.

The high-school resource program would be eliminated, and other subdivisions would see significant job cuts, including vice, narcotics, burglary, economic crime unit, special-victims bureau, traffic and community liaisons.

If the income-tax increase does pass, Distelzweig said cuts would not be necessary.

"I think the citizens are going to do the right thing in August and when that happens then this will all be revised," he said.

Distelzweig said it’s not a scare tactic; it's just math.

"The other part of this is the voters needed to be informed of what the consequences are of how they vote," Distelzweig said.

Justin Craig and his family have called police several times from their south Columbus home. He said he feels compelled to support the tax increase because he's worried about longer response times.

"I think it's probably going to spur people on a little more toward vigilantism. If you're expecting no cop to come, you might just want to take care of the problem yourself," Craig said.

Columbus resident Art Berry said he's having a tough time paying his bills and that adding new taxes would be too painful, so he's planning to vote against the tax hike.

"I hate to lose the police officers. I hate to lose the firefighters, but somewhere we have to draw the line as to how far we're going to be taxed," Berry said.

The CPD proposed budget cuts would total almost $26 million.

The city already has slashed $13 million this year and may have to cut another $16 million.

The half-percent increase could bring the city $100 million.

Community leaders have said they cannot afford to lose any more safety programs.

NBC 4 was told that the fire department is working on its own plan of projected budget cuts if the increase fails.

Police will decrease security for Red, White and Boom! this summer due to budget woes.

CPD COMMUNITY FORUMS
Chief Walter L. Distelzweig would like your input and has scheduled four community forums

The Columbus Division of Police scheduled forums to gather input from the community on issues affecting Columbus neighborhoods.

Citizens were invited to attend, ask questions and provide ideas regarding policing services.

EAST MEETING
6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 27
Barnett Recreation Center, 1184 Barnett Rd., Columbus, 43227

NORTH MEETING
6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 28
Gillie Recreation Center, 4625 Morse Centre Rd. (Morse Centre Shopping Center), Columbus, 43229

WEST MEETING
6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 4
Westgate Recreation Center, 455 S. Westgate Ave., Columbus, 43204

SOUTH MEETING
6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 17
Marion Franklin Recreation Center, 2801 Lockbourne Rd., Columbus, 43207

Call 614-645-4593 for additional forum information.

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