Three Des Moines police officers will be laid off following action by the city council.
The cuts come as the council struggles to close a $2 million deficit. What will not be cut, however, are senior programs and before and after school parks and recreation activities.
The cuts include a sergeant position, reducing their number from eight to seven. Two officers will be transferred to the levy lid lift fund.
The police department made it through last year's budget season without losing any police officers. When Police Chief Roger Baker was asked to cut $800,000 from his budget this year, he was forced to look at personnel and officers.
The total saved from eliminating three police officers and moving two to a different fund would save the city just over $500,000.
With the reduction in officers, Chief Baker said he plans to eliminate the Crime Prevention Task Force, and roll those police officers back into patrol. So, even with the cuts, there will be the same amount of officers on patrol.
Council members indicated they were going out of their way to not remove police officers. Residents had made their desire for a strong police force clear by passing the levy lid lift, according to lawmakers.
When cutting police officers was brought up this year, Councilman Ed Pina spoke out strongly against it, making a motion to take the cuts off of the table. The motion did not pass.
Pina remained quiet as the cuts were being discussed this time, and was the lone voice of dissent as the cuts were passed.
No one wants to see a reduction in police staff, yet the staff the city is working with is just sad, said Councilwoman Susan White. She said she did not want to see the burden of budget cuts being placed completely on the city staff, who are already overworked and understaffed.
The two motions eliminating three police officer positions were passed 5-1, with Mayor Bob Sheckler absent.
Last year city staffers agreed to reductions in pay to avoid as many cuts as possible. The union representing the police department did not agree to any cuts.
The Parks department has two employees to maintain all of the parks.
Currently, the city will not be supporting any events such as the Christmas Ship and the Waterland Parade unless all of the costs are paid for from an outside source.
Last year, the 50th Anniversary Parade cost the city $18,000 in police overtime and $13,500 for staff time on the day of the event. That doesn't include the money and time spent planning the parade.
