Updated: 11/30/2009 10:14 PM KSTP.com | Print |  Email
By: Chris O'Connell & Becky Nahm

Proposed MPD Budget Cuts Civilian Jobs, Not Cops

The Minneapolis police chief proposed a budget to the city council Monday that would cut $8 million by laying off nearly 50 civilian employees, reducing cell phone use and axing the mounted patrol.

Chief Tim Dolan said, "We're cutting down these services, we cut them down to the bone. There are no choices."

He recommended the elimination of 47 civilian positions, including some crime prevention specialists for a savings of $3.7 million.

He also recommended taking away cell phones from non-supervisors. He says that would save $319,000.

Under the chief's plan the mounted patrol would also be dissolved. The officers assigned to the patrol would keep their jobs, but the horses and equipment would go. The move would save $232,000.

Dolan said the cutting so many non-uniform workers will mean more work for those in uniform.

Dolan said, "Can we do the same job without them? No. But those are some of difficult choices we have to make with budget reductions."

Some members of the city council don't think Dolan's proposal cuts deep enough.

Council member Betsy Hodges, Ward 13, said, "This seems insufficient for me to feel confident that we have addressed the budget that the police department has."

Dolan blamed the problem on state budget cuts. He said any more cuts would result in layoffs to uniformed officers.

The city council will vote on a final budget in December.