Cathedral City May Soon Have Fewer Police Officers
Will 21 police officers be enough to protect a city of over 60,000 people?
According to Cathedral City police officer Alfredo Luna, “What we have right now is not enough. Twenty one is definitely not going to be enough.”
Yet, that might need to suffice if Cathedral City passes its proposal of 14 layoffs to the Cathedral City Police Department. The city council meeting brimmed with Cathedral City police officers and residents boldly stepping to the microphone to counter the city’s proposal.
“The only thing keeping our city’s criminals from taking over the streets is their knowledge that the Cathedral City Police Department will not let them,” Luna said.
The Cathedral City Police Department is allowed to have 57 employees, and right now it isn’t at capacity. Of those fourteen spots on the chopping block, nine are employees that would potentially lose their jobs and five are empty positions that wouldn’t be filled.
“One of them has a baby on the way, he has another baby that’s a year old. They’re looking at unemployment. They just bought a home, they can lose their home,” Luna said.
Four hundred redevelopment agencies shut down February 1st, leaving Cathedral City in a tight spot. As the Police Department says — $8 million over budget.
“We are looking at a major revenue shortfall and that has resulted in putting forward proposals as to how we can best me that with reductions,” Cathedral City city manager Don Bradley said.
Is taking jobs away from public safety the best option?
“The problem is so significant that in times past we have tried to protect public safety. Because we cut so far back in other areas in city government at this point in my judgement we would have no choice but to cut public safety,” Bradley said.
Potential layoffs will affect the fire department and two other unions as well — a total of about 60 city employees that could lose their jobs. Yet, the police department hasn’t lost hope.
“We’ve always negotiated well with the city, and we’re prepared to continue negotiations,” Mark Robles, president of the Police Officers Association, said.
