Palm Springs Police Keep Five Officers Slated For Layoffs

Five Palm Springs police officers who were scheduled to be laid off will stay on the force, thanks to a modification to a federal grant, city officials said today.

The city changed its request to the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Recovery Program by asking to keep five officers on the force instead of adding five additional ones.

“This is great news for the city of Palm Springs,” said Mayor Steve Pougnet. “Initially, we sought to secure these funds in order to add five additional police officers, and we are thrilled that the COPS funding that we were awarded can be used to prevent layoffs.”

The officers’ jobs were on the chopping block because of a projected $7.7 million city deficit. The department has already given layoff notices to 22 non-sworn employees and closed the Palm Springs Jail.

“This funding will help our department protect and serve the citizens of Palm Springs, allowing us to keep five sworn police officers in the streets,” said police Chief David Dominguez.