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155 Tulsa Police Officers Could Be Laid Off

Updated: 1/21/2010 10:42 pm

Published: 1/21/2010 2:51 pm

TULSA, OK -- Per Jason Willingham with the Tulsa Police Department, 155 Officers are getting calls to meet Friday afternoon at the police academy at 1400 and 1900 hours, to discuss layoff plans.

Willingham says the Union is still meeting with the mayor but TPD needs to move forward to meet layoff guidelines. Right now the last day for the 155 officers will be Jan. 29th.

This will affect 19.4% of the sworn force. 14 civilian positions will also be eliminated and $300,000 in supplies, etc will be cut. This is for a total savings of $3.4 million.

Willingham also addressed rumors about Chief of Police Ron Palmer.

"No the chief is not resigning and no he has not been told he will be termintated."

The Chief says if there are layoffs patrols will not be affected because detectives and officers will be transfered to the field; so Tulsa County Sheriff's Office Deputies will not be needed for backup.

Willingham says more tranfsers will be made on top of the transfers that were already plannned this week when there were only 135 possible layoffs.

What units will be depleted is still being discussed but traffic officers are now taking regular calls.

To read a email sent out by Mayor Dewey Bartlett to all City of Tulsa Employees CLICK HERE.

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braxler09 - 1/21/2010 10:54 PM

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The mayor did inherit the budget problem, but he has had plenty of time to begin the process of adding a public safety fee on taxes, bills, etc.. to prevent lay-offs in the public safety field. I have heard the TARE board would have to refund the trash surplus funds to citizens which equals about 12.00 per citizen. Why should Police and Fire take 16% of their annual income as a substitute to all these lay-offs when Tulsans could pay an extra dollar per month per household on their water bill to keep 300 public safety employees on the street. The Police and Fire employees will find other jobs in other cities and we will suffer the consequences of the increase in crime rates and slower response times. These guys put their lives on the line everyday, and this is how we thank them. I hold both the Mayor and the City Councilors responsible. At least we have the One Technology Center that is costing us money each year.

prez1180 - 1/21/2010 9:36 PM

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14 civilian positions means more public service employees are being laid off. does this change the non-sworn numbers to 79 instead of 65? what else is being hid from the citizens?

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