Police Chief Holds 1st Meeting To Talk Potential Cuts

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus police went to residents Wednesday night to explain why CPD wants Columbus voters to approve a half-percent income-tax increase.

It was the first public meeting hosted by CPD to talk with the public about significant officer cuts or layoffs that were announced earlier in the week.

FAST FACTS:
- 297 officers would be laid off.
- Important safety services would be cut.
- Federal stimulus money given to keep recruits from losing their jobs would have to be returned.
- The police force would be at its lowest level since 1994.

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.

Community meeting attendees had plenty of questions, and CPD had plenty of answers.

If Wednesday’s crowd was any indication, though, convincing residents the increase is a good idea may be a rough road.

NBC 4 reported with BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.

Police Chief Walter Distelzweig said the division will cut or layoff 297 sworn officers if voters don’t approve the city’s half-percent income-tax increase in August. The income-tax increase will be on the special Tuesday, Aug. 4, ballot.

Almost 300 residents turned out to the Barnett Recreation Center on the city’s East Side Wednesday for the first of several public meetings to discuss the cuts.

Distelzweig hoped the meetings would lead to more support for the tax increase.

It was obvious it wasn’t going to be an easy meeting from the beginning. It was hot, and residents had complaints and questions.

“Stop it. Stop the fear. Stop the lying,” resident Dondi Henderson said.

“If you call the police, they do not arrive,” resident Joe Nobel said. “In the meantime, we have five thugs in the neighborhood stealing bikes.”

“Can you explain why somebody that’s being saved by federal funds is being put at risk by being cut by the city,” one lady asked.

Comments went way off course.

“I've been shot at. I've been raped. I have been hurt,” another lady said.

There was some constructive dialogue spaced throughout.

“What I would like from my police officers is what I can do basically to help make my community safer,” a female resident said.

“What can we do as a community to assist you because the resources are not there,” Shelly Jenkins asked.

Distelzweig said attendees were educated on the consequence of the levy’s passage or failure.

With the upcoming forced retirement of 100 senior officers in 2011, the real number of officers gone could be closer to 400 than 300.

Equipment isn't being replaced, according to Distelzweig.

Helicopter flying hours have been cut.

While no one knows for sure whether crime will go up with a smaller police force, there certainly was that impression.

“I think it’s a bunch of crap that the city officials and the law enforcement officials are using to stay on the public's nipple,” Henderson said.

CPD COMMUNITY FORUMS
Chief Walter L. Distelzweig would like your input and has scheduled four community forums. The first was held on the city's East Side Wednesday evening.

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.

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.

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO RECRUIT STIMULUS FUNDS?
Twenty-five CPD officer recruits’ jobs were saved by a $1.2 million federal bailout in March.

President Barack Obama came to Columbus for the recruits’ graduation ceremony.

Obama said he wanted the nation, especially Columbus and Ohio, to understand—from his point of view—the impact federal stimulus monies can have on a community.

The division’s newest officers are facing an uncertain future again after the chief announced potential cuts to the city’s police force Tuesday.

If voters were to turn down a city income-tax increase and pink slips were handed out, as the most recently hired, the recruits would be the first to go.

Insiders within the force told NBC 4 they were told the city intended to spread that stimulus money out over three years and since the bailout was aimed specifically at saving those recruit jobs, some of the money may have to be returned.

Dan Williamson, a spokesman for the mayor, and city council spokesman John Ivanic told a different story.

They said the stimulus money will pay the recruit class salaries through Dec. 31, 2009. It all will be used for its intended purpose by the end of the year. The potential layoffs and cuts would not begin until Jan. 1, 2010. Not a penny of the bailout money will be returned -- even if the recruits find themselves on the unemployment line.

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