The Sacramento Police Department has eliminated more than 200 positions in the past three years.
"But we haven't actually had to lay sworn police officers off. This is the first time that that has been part of the budget."
Laura Peck is with the Sacramento Police Department. She
says this year's budget will eliminate 167 full-time
positions. Some of those are civilian positions and others
are vacant. When all calculations are done, that equals 80
sworn police officers in danger of losing their jobs.
Peck says taking police officers off the street is the least
preferable way to cut spending, but she says that's the only
remaining option.
"We're down to the bare minimum. Like I said, this
is the fourth budget cycle of cuts."
The City Council could reduce the cuts before it approves the
budget in late June. The question is whether those cuts can
be avoided when the city faces a 39 million dollar budget
deficit.
