Report: Cincinnati Police to Cut 200 Jobs

CINCINNATI --

A source within the Cincinnati Police Department confirmed for News 5 that as many as 200 officers could be laid off by January because of budget cuts.

Some officers were given the news at meetings with their commanders Friday night.

The first round of 100 layoffs would come in September because of federal grant money the police department expected to receive but did not.

The second round of cuts would come in January as part of budget cuts in the department to help the city make up an expected citywide $40 million shortfall for 2010.

Officers with as much as four years of experience could be laid off in that second round of cuts.

A separate grant that could be issued this fall could save 50 of these jobs, but that remains to be determined.

Sources also tell News 5 that the layoff situation could change if the city manager's office revises its cutbacks to the police department's budget. The City Council would have final say over how many layoffs there end up being to the police department.

Some council members have raised the possibility of implementing a fee for city garbage collection, or even raising property taxes, as a way to avoid further cuts to public safety.

News 5 has learned that Kathy Harrell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, has scheduled a meeting with City Manager Milton Dohoney for Wednesday. She was expected to discuss the layoffs and the city's proposal for six-day furloughs, which were proposed earlier in the week.

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