San Jose Police Layoffs Loom With June Deadline
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – The San Jose Police Department could lay off as many as 300 police officers by June 27th if the Police Officer's Association doesn't agree to an ongoing 10 percent pay cut.
Budget study sessions start next week, but the chief of police is pessimistic they'll be able to avoid additional layoffs. If the layoffs go through, the department's staffing could be reduced to its level from 1986 despite the city's growth in population; making it the Bay Area's largest city.
Police Chief Chris Moore claimed that 122 layoff notices were issued to officers in the sworn ranks last week –something they've never had to do before– and noted the "significant impact" on the department.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
"When you're laying off hundreds, it's not good. If we don't get some of the concessions we need within the next six weeks or so, we're facing probably double the layoffs," said Moore.
City Councilman Sam Liccardo agreed that no one wants to layoff police officers, but concluded that there is an "extraordinary amount of dollars going into retirement costs", that forces the layoffs and cuts to services.
San Jose faces closing a $115 million budget deficit by June 30th.
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